Question on timeframes.

Lilliesien · New User Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1

My dad's (who is 85 years old) PCP picked up a slightly decreased platlet count for about a year then decided when it kept getting lower to send hi to hemotology/oncology. When he saw the oncologist they did a bone marrow biopsy that basically didnt show anything and then a CT of his abdomen which revealed a spot 2x4 CM on his liver. They tried to do a CT guided biposy but my dad could not sit still on the table so they wound up doing an ultrasound guided biopsy that cane back with a pathology report that he indeed had primary liver cancer and the oncologist says he confirmed this with a AFP blood test. although his platelet count remains boderline low and his LFT's are just slightly elevated he remains asymptomatic. The oncologist referred us to a general surgeon to do a radiofrequency ablation procedure but he said he could not do it because it was to close to the lung and too big of a tumor (it remains 2x4 CM). He referred us to a radiologist/oncologist who specilaizes in cryoablation and expressed confidence he could remove all of the tumor and essnetially "cure him" with minimally invasive surgery and cryoablation (he is the doctor who actually invented this procedure).

The problem is that this doctor just left (the day he saw my dad) for a European vacation and wont be back until the second week in september and they couldnt get him into the surgical Schedule until Septemeber 21st.

We saw the Oncologist Friday and said waiting another 6 weeks is unacceptable and is now referring us to the Shands at the University of Florida to see the head of the liver surgery department there.

My dad really really liked and had confidence in the radiologist/oncologist he first saw and wants to wait but I have convinced him a second opinion couldnt hurt so we are going up to Shands next week.

My dad has no real health problems other then arthritis and is going to a cardiologist on Tues just to be sure his heart is ok for the general anesthesia for either an ablation or cryo procedure....

but my question is is it safe to wait another 6 weeks...? I read about the doctor at shands and seems to do mostly transplants which because of my dads age he is not a candidate for, plus He does not want to have an open ressection under any circumstances....

I just want to understand time frames here and how much difference 6 weeks will make (it will be 4 weeks by the time we see the doctors in shands until the other doctor can do the cryo procedure)

He is relatively active for a man of his age, enjoys music, his grandchildren, reading, etc... so we would love it if we could actually find a procedure that would "cure" or substantially lengthen his lifespan without the devastaing side effects of chemo...

anyway is it safe to wait 5 more weeks?

Anonymous · Guest

I'm sorry I didn't see your post earlier..PLEASE tell me you did NOT decide to wait! 6 DAYS is too long never mind 6 weeks
Any cancer is serious, damaging, and unpredictable. Living with regret and guilt is far worse.
If this sounds like I'm trying to scare you...I am.
Please get answers immediately and let me know how it goes. There are tons of resources for support . And I'll try to answer any questions for you.
Hoping for the best!

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