My dad's story and some HOPE - PLEASE answer anyone...

12ellyellysmom · New User Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 5

Hello all - I am new to this board. I don't know what my dad has, so that is the main reason I am here.

He has had stomach pain on the left side for a month. CT scan just showed a 3cm "growth" on his liver. Nothing else shows on the CT scan. They are doing a biopsy next Monday.

My dad is not jaundiced. He is not really fatigued. Just a gnawing tummy pain when he lays down (on left side NOT right).

Here is my question: Could this be a benign tumor? The doctor told my parents that surgery is "not indicated."

So, what could it be???? Would the doctor wait a week for the biopsy if he thought it was cancer???? Please answer someone...I am petrified and my parents lve about 2 hours from me and I have a little girl who is devastated too...

My dad is prone to cysts and he has some of those bumpy, flat growths on his skin that also grow in the liver...But, I have read they are filled with blood and should not be biopsied...

Please someone HELP me - I don't know how we can all go on like this.

Also, HERE IS SOME HOPE for our family and others::::

My grandpa was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1980. They surgically removed part of the colon and the tumor. But, they also found it in his liver at the time of surgery.

They did not operate on the liver because it was inoperable. However, he did get a couple of rounds of chemo.

He lost weight and was weak. But, within months he moved to San Diego, to be closer to my family (and to be able to golf often, ha, ha).

He felt fine and lived for many years. In fact, he lived for 7 years with this hopeless, inoperable liver growth.

In the end, my grandpa died when he went in for elective surgery (unrelated to his liver or his cancer). We tried to talk him out of it, but he wanted it done for some reason. He passed away NOT from the cancer, but from a blood-clot in his leg after the elective surgery.

Again, this was 7 years after diagnosis with very little treatment!!!

Please someone answer me - I need help right now and I don't know who else could understand me.

Thank you all.

brainman

12ellyellysmom, I am very sorry about your father's health concerns and for your grandfather's death. Until they do a biopsy, there is no way to tell what is on his liver. Yes, it most definitely could be benign. However, since it is causing him so much discomfort, they will have to do something about it if they can. I suspect that either way he might have to have surgery.

It is possible the this "thing" is inoperable, like with your grandfather. As you well know from your grandfather's experience, that does not mean that your father will die soon. He could live for many more years.

I can hear though your words who much distress this is causing you. I wish there was an easy way through all of this time of uncertainty. You and your father 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 Oligodendoglioma 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/

12ellyellysmom · New User Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 5

Thank you so much for your response. We are all so lost. My dad has been through SO much and this is not fair...

In 1986, he had a cerebral anyeurism (sp?) that burst in 4 places. They told us a 1% chance of recovery.

THEN, he had a stroke on the operating table ten days later. They told us the BEST case would be that he would be blind in his right eye and in a wheelchair. Well, he woke up within the hour and has been fine for 22 years with no residual effects except occasional tiredness. His doctor called it a "miracle."

A few months later, he almost died with viral encephilitis (sp). He should not have lived, but he did with NO after-effects.

Then, he did not know he had diabetes in 1995. He walked into the hospital with a sugar-level off the charts on the monitors when they tested him - walking in basically a diabetic coma.

Then, in 1999, he had 3 heart attacks and quintuple-bypass surgery!! THEN, 2 of the grafts failed. Again, they told us very little chance...Now, his heart has very little damage and he has grown new vessles and has NO heart-related symptoms.

So, please someone tell me this is going to be ok too - We kind of say my dad is "magical" and nothing gets him like it should (this is what my little girl says about her grandpa)...

I am so lost...

From what I have read, there are very few benign growths that occur on the liver for a 65-year-old man. So, what are they? The benign tumors, I mean...Does anyone know?

I don't know where to turn and I can't talk to my dad's doctor - so far away - and dad would not let me anyway...

Thank you for listening.

12ellyellysmom · New User Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 5

Oh, and my dad has not had an alcoholic drink since college AND he does not have Hepatitis or cirrohsis. Also, whatever blood test they do for liver cancer/problems is negative (is it called AFP??).

SO, I don't know - what else COULD it be? Does anyone know?

Thank you so much -

12ellyellysmom · New User Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 5

Ok, I am going to reply to myself - because it makes me feel better, ha...

My dad is really not showing symptoms of cancer. No cancer in dad's side of the family (lots of heart disease).

The most important thing that keeps me going is the fact that his blood tests were negative for cancer.

AND, his pain is on the left side, not right...

AND no cancer anywhere else (yes, I know that could still mean liver cancer...)

BUT, would they wait so long and biopsy something that was cancer? Or, do you think the doctors think it is NOT cancer?

Do older men get the benign type of liver tumors??? Again, no liver disease and certainly no drinking...

Please someone talk to me...

brainman

I keep reading your posts wishing that I knew more to say to answer your questions Sad

but alas, I do not have many answers. Just want to let you know that you are not alone. You and your father remain 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 Oligodendoglioma 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/

12ellyellysmom · New User Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 5

Thank you for your reply - everyone here is so kind. I am just so sad. I can't function, take care of my little girl, clean house - I am so worried about my dad and my mom.

Last year, they thought my dad had a leaky heart valve too - He got to the hospital for the repair and they found out he did NOT have a heart valve problem. So, we are hoping this is a false alarm.

He does have ulcers (the only other thing found on the testing), so that might be the cause of his tummy pain ??

I read there is a type of liver tumor that grows in women on hormone therapy and on men with diabetes. That kind of tumor is a benign tumor, so maybe that is it???

Thank you again. It is theraputic for me to write this down - God Bless

wildyellowrose · New User Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 4

I just wanted to encourage your father to check out every option, my husband had about the same symptoms, it took 3 months to diagnose, if the first doctor doesn't give you clear results take him to someone else, that tummy pain sounds like the tumor pressing on his stomach, don't take no for an answer, drag him to the doctor.!!!

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