life expectancy from initial diagnesis liver cancer

sheila · Experienced user Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 90

hi Im sheila and the topic would be my moms colon cancer matastisiized to ovary to liver long story since april 06-she had two miracles so far and do we dare ask for a third(because I believe that is what its going to take)
she saw her oncologist yesterday and the blood work showed abnornal cells and the scan spotted something (a definate growth) on the liver.she had a P.E.T scan this morning entire body(scares me to find out how much it will show) we will get the results Monday. then she more than likely will be reffered to a liver specialist at another hospital and surgery is inevitable-alot also to do with the fact he said it was in a very difficult place to biopsy. I am hurting so bad for her (and selfishly hurting some for myself) she is such a strong person but Im seaching to try and give her something positive because thats all she will allow me to tell her-Im still searching shes running out of options ( 1st she almost died on the operating table in the first emergency surgery which she had to have a colostomy now irrreversable chemo pills lmost killed her half way through, un able to do the port her body rejected it again almost.. had a second surgery for the ovary..,been through radiation and now this shows up Im the eldest of 3 two younger brothers - Im still searching the site and many others- I need to face facts now.thanx all who listened that felt better

brainman

Hi Sheila. I copied your post to the colon cancer forum because that is really what your mother is dealing with. I am very sorry about your mother's cancer. I am not sure how colon cancer is staged but since it has already metastasized to the liver it is at least a stage III if not a stage IV.

Your mother's inner strength will work in her favor. She will need to draw on it a lot during the following months. There will be times that she will need to depend on you and others for strength so make sure your own support group is good and in place to help you through these times.

You and your mother are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

sheila · Experienced user Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 90

[quote="brainman"]Hi Sheila. I copied your post to the colon cancer forum because that is really what your mother is dealing with. I am very sorry about your mother's cancer. I am not sure how colon cancer is staged but since it has already metastasized to the liver it is at least a stage III if not a stage IV.

Your mother's inner strength will work in her favor. She will need to draw on it a lot during the following months. There will be times that she will need to depend on you and others for strength so make sure your own support group is good and in place to help you through these times.

You and your mother are in my thoughts and prayers.[/quote]
Thank you for caring.(it originally was a T4 stage tumor)

karolynca · Experienced user Joined: 13 May 2008 Posts: 51

Hi Sheila

First of all I am so sorry you are going thru this, Cancer is an evil thing to deal with Crying or Very sad

My father was diagnosed with a tumor on November 2007, he refused Chemo or any other treatment, May 2008 the tumor ha compromised the liver and by July 2008 he died (just 8 days ago). But your mother is getting treatment which will probably increase her life expectancy. In the case of my father he got no treatment at all, we are still unsure if my father's tumor started at the liver, at the bile ducts or at the duodenum as when he was operated in Nov. 2007 they just found the big mass and it was already too spread.

Sending all my prayers to you and your mom...she is sure a trooper!
_________________
Dad ~ Passed away from Multiorgan failure due to secondary liver cancer on July 2008

http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=34365

sheila · Experienced user Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 90

[quote="karolynca"]Hi Sheila

when he was operated in Nov. 2007 they just found the big mass and it was already too spread.

Sending all my prayers to you and your mom...she is sure a trooper!/quote]

Thank you every little prayer and good thought helps (I truly believe that) Im sorry for your loss-how painfully sad this can all be...
We are to get the full results of the scan tomorrow morning-moms petrified and to be honest Im just shutting down on my thoughts or feelings outwardly for now so I can function better more for mom and my younger brothers-we keep a fairly cheerfull front for mom-unless shes having a serios moment then we all express our concerns-but for the most part we are enjoying each others company and holding onto to the good moments as long as we can. she still..God bless her) insists on us comming to her home every sunday for dinner. she know I would take over in a heartbeat if she wasnt up to it. Our family is extremely close and its our love that holds us together(I always hear my grandmas words(my moms mom)"-you be a strong calabrese.(she was Italian obviously) you keepa the faith and saya the prayer and dont you cry for the deceased they are not sad or hurting." thanx again

dllfb · Regular Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 42

So sorry to hear about your mother's sickness Sheila. We are wondering how she is doing? Haven't seen you here for a while.

sheila · Experienced user Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 90

dllfb-thanks for caring-well she is now schedualed or a 40% liver resection on sept 9th.. but ahter an ekg they sent her to a cardiologist because they said something needed to be checked into before the operation-well she went yesterday and the cardiologist said there is some abnormality but with herage 73 its to be expected but he does want to do a dopler to make sure before her surgery-put her on some kind of beta blocker..he said it was mild at leat untill surgery she is still on warfarin untill she has to stop it on the 4th untill after surgery. really dont know much more than that untill they do the actual operation and give us the findings-I so hope she has a chance to recover from this-she always seems to have some sort of complicatin with her body s reaction to invasive proceedures-even IVS and clotting. she is soo not ready to die -yet that seems to be all she can think about-and Im still not aloud to say a word about this untill after the operation-then she will if shes still here, and then she said of course if theres a problem with the surgery-then I can say something. I got to respect her wishes its difficult though when everyone keeps asking about her-I dont answer the phone any more.
I know she feels she has to talk about it when shes ready, but in a conversation she will slide something in like -I have to clean my house in case something happens and you end up here(her home is clean)
then today she was telling me how much she hates rituals and the best route to go is donate money to a priest and have him go to the funeral home-I on the other hand am telling her I have some things for her to pack in her christmas box-she sends to all the young and older neices and nephewd in Tucon Arizona- she says I might not even be here . I said yes you will one way or another. she is still healthy otherwise-its just that @!# cancer. I kep reminding her that she got through alot worse surgery and problems than this..she will make it My brothers and I are cloe and so are our husband/wife/girlfriend there are alot of people we all know praying for her with masses and candle offerings ect.. it got her this far... wish there was something more we could do-feel so helpless.

dllfb · Regular Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 42

Hi Sheila..I am glad that your mom will be strong enough to have the surgery. Where there is life there is hope...your mom's past experiences has demonstrated that. My mom is 88 and unfortunately her liver cancer in inoperable....(her story is under the liver cancer section of this site) she is very depressed and says things similar to your mother...ie. She already showed me what she wants to wear at her funeral. I told her jokingly that if she keeps this attitude up...I'd better get my outfit prepared for mine as well, because I'll go before she does. I try to be strong for her and my dad...but I always have this awful knot in my upper abdomen....and cry a lot.
My prayers are with you and especially with your mother at this time.
God Bless.

DJL · Regular Joined: 26 Apr 2008 Posts: 15

Sheila,

I'm glad you found this forum. It helps to talk to others who are going through the same type of situation.

Your mother sounds like a very strong woman.
She will be in my thoughts & prayers as she faces surgery.

Hugs,
DJL
_________________
55 year old Female
Diagnosed with rectal cancer 10/02/2007
Chemo & Radiation
Permanent Colostomy & Rectum Removed 01/21/2008

sheila · Experienced user Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 90

thank you both for caring-I know how rough and depressing it is on my end and I couldnt possible understand the anxiety you are all going through or have been through. I thank you for your concern and prayers -it means alot-you are a very brave and wonderful group-I would like to respond to alot of you but I havent any advise I can offer I feel its better not to say just anything....Im even starting to worry a bit about some of you that I only see a few posts and its been awhile-I start thinking-oh no whats happening now? -I can only share what Ive seen and am seeing mom go through. It has definately been harder than she lets on-If she has a minor complaint its usually a biggie shes unable to hide.(She always trys to protect us from worry) kindhearted as that is--now is not the time-She needs support too ! And its sad she is facing this terrible thing without her husband to hold and comfort her.(my dad died when he was 54-heart) so we all give herextra hugs.and altho she claims weve been wonderfull children for her and if it wasnt for her family she would have given up-but now she has a little better attitude of to fight it with all she has! I love her for that! My grandma(her mom) was like that. The cardiologist has mostly cleared her for surgery with the EKG but he wants a dopler the day before-he doesnt think its much to be of concern..thank God for that! She is relieved and slowly building up the courage for the surgery(again) the 9th this mo. I probably wont know anything more untill after that. so if you dont here from me I may start getting involved with that. For tonite I can say I wish you all as well as could be expected . and my thoughts and prayers include all on this forum-thanks for being there-sheila Smile

dllfb · Regular Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 42

My prayers are with your mom that the surgery goes wonderfully...and for you so you can stay strong/healthy so your can provide the loving support that she needs. She is very lucky to have you~
D

sheila · Experienced user Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 90

[quote="dllfb"]My prayers are with your mom that the surgery goes wonderfully...and for you so you can stay strong/healthy so your can provide the loving support that she needs. She is very lucky to have you~
D[/quote]

T-h-a-n-k-----y-o-u Smile

sheila

KarenS · New User Joined: 07 Sep 2008 Posts: 1

Hi Shelia,

I'm new to the board and saw your heartfelt post. I'm so sorry your mother is having to battle colon cancer. Continue to be the wonderful daughter that you are and don't lose hope.

I have been fighting colorectal cancer since Mar 2004 and I know what your mom is going through. Last summer the cancer spread to my liver and I had it resectioned. I completed the Folfox regiment in May and am now starting to feel pretty good, except for some neuropathy issues in my hands, feet, and legs.

I see that your mother is scheduled for surgery tomorrow. I'll keep your mom and you in my thoughts and prayers.

Karen

sheila · Experienced user Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 90

KarenS-thank you for posting your concern yep-its tomorrow we are all very nervous she has to be at a hospital 45 min from here and she has to be there at 5am-going to be a tough week ( my husband and 2 younger brothers will be there to when she wakes up-gives me lots of time to contemplate and pray- I know of no better way than to make good use of that waiting time.I heard my mom tell my brother)'Im just going to pretend this is happening to someone eles I know " and when they are through all this Ill be happy for them- WAY TO GO MOM! again thanks for all your caring.

ecnill · New User Joined: 06 Oct 2008 Posts: 4

[quote="karolynca"]Hi Sheila

First of all I am so sorry you are going thru this, Cancer is an evil thing to deal with :cry:

My father was diagnosed with a tumor on November 2007, he refused Chemo or any other treatment, May 2008 the tumor ha compromised the liver and by July 2008 he died (just 8 days ago). But your mother is getting treatment which will probably increase her life expectancy. In the case of my father he got no treatment at all, we are still unsure if my father's tumor started at the liver, at the bile ducts or at the duodenum as when he was operated in Nov. 2007 they just found the big mass and it was already too spread.

Sending all my prayers to you and your mom...she is sure a trooper![/quote]

HELLO,

I was reading the posts and saw your story about your father. My mother has a similar story -- turned yellow three weeks ago and three days later US and CAT showed inoperable advanced liver cancer which she has chosen not to treat. Teh doctor said 6 months; teh hospice nurse this past Monday said a few weeks. But, yesterday and today, she's full of energy, eating well again, and not vomiting (she is on continuous release morphine for the pain). It's confusing to us, as just 48 hours ago she could barely keep her eyes open and wasn't eating anything. Did you experience this at all with your father? We're not sure how to interpret this.

Thanks for your help.

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