Mother diagnosed with Primary Liver Cancer--Treatment?

rcrain72 · New User Joined: 06 Mar 2008 Posts: 1

I am new to this forum unfortunately and I need some insight to some of your experiences with dealing with this type of Cancer.

I am an RN and feel pretty confident in my abilities and medical knowledge, but need some guidance in advocating for my mother. I am not a oncology nurse, but I do have experience working with patients and families that have terminal illnesses--I am a Hospice Liaison for a group of hospitals. This helps me with knowing how to help her later, but she was just diagnosed 2 weeks ago and we want to do as much as we can for her.

Here is her story--She has had cirrhosis/fatty liver for years although she was never an alcoholic. She has taken lactulose and neomycin to assist in keeping her ammonia levels down for years, as well, and has had ultrasounds of her liver done yearly. Approx. 7-8 years ago she was referred to Univ. of Alabama, for liver transplant work-up, but her liver condition was not severe enough, at that time, to justify being placed on the list.

The ultrasound done 5 weeks ago showed a mass and she as scheduled for a biopsy of the area. A week later the biopsy was done. A week and a half later the results confirmed that it was cancerous, in the left lobe, and approx. 2 inches x 3 inches in size.

Once it was confimed as cancer, her internal medicine MD refferred her to a surgeon which was earlier this week on Wed. I found it odd that she didn't automatically order a oncologist evaluation and questioned why it was not ordered. MD nurse said that they wanted to consult surgeon first to see if the area could be resected....I accepted this explanation, although it still didn't make sense to me.

The surgeon said that he "could" resect the area but didn't feel that the risk of the surgery and possible liver failure was worth it and suggested that she go back to the Univ. of Alabama to see the Hepatologist. The surgeon and her internal med doctor agreed on this course---but it may be a month before she can get an appt. I was livid that it was going to another 4 weeks without an oncologist referral much less treatment. So, I called the Internal Med MD back and was assured that this was the best course for now.

As of yesterday (approx 3 weeks after diagnosed) she had yet to receive an oncologist referral. Upon prodding my "don't rock the boat mentality" mother, she called her internal med MD and asked for an oncologist consult and obtained one for 3/12.

Here are my concerns:

1. I think, although I'm a nurse, that it is common sense that she should have had an oncologist referral--right off the bat and that all this waiting is just allowing the cancer to grow and possibly spread. [b] I'm not sure if she has treatment (RFA, chemoembolization, percutanous ethanol injection) if this would mess up results of tests to be done at the Univ. or whether she should pursue active treatment now.[/b]
2. What form of treatments have worked or not worked for you guys?

I want to advocate for her as much as possible and let her know that she is not alone in this. In the same breath...I don't want to seem like I'm inruding on her treatment and her relationships with the MD's--she IS the one having to see them!! It's hard when I'm in CA and she is in MS to feel like the right things are being done--------and hopefully you guys can suggest some things that may help with that.

Sorry for being a long winded newbie, but I thank each of you in advance for your input.
Smile

BARRY

Queensland Girl · Regular Joined: 17 Oct 2007 Posts: 48 Location: Australia

Hello,

After your Mum has seen the oncologist, they will be able to formulate a treatment plan. It may involve chemotherapy and/or surgery. Sometimes surgery is not an option because of various factors. For my Dad, he was not strong enough for surgery and only had chemo.

Try not to second guess your Mum's treatment, but always question what you don't know or understand.

Try to remain positive.

My thoughts are with you,

Queensland Girl

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