Liver Cancer is Us
Earlier in the year, I wrote about my grand-daughter Cassandra, who at the age of three had developed liver cancer, a very aggressive cancer that immediately threatened her life. Chemo has pushed the cancer back but her liver has been trashed. She is now on a liver donor list awaiting a transplant.
Friday afternoon, my husband received news that he, too, has liver cancer. The cancer was found early, two relatively small tumors. His case is complicated by diabetes and pre-existing liver disease (fatty liver/ non-alcoholic cirrhosis).
Anyone here have experience with liver cancer--what to expect, questions to ask? We have an appointment with the surgeon on Tuesday morning and another appointment Wednesday with an oncologist.
Any words of advice would be appreciated.
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But wish you the best.
That helps as well. 
Good wishes are medicine, too. 
I wish I had some wisdom to offer you. All I can say is that this is why it is so important that everyone chooses to be organ donors. I am so sorry for what you and your family are going through.
My husband's already nixed the idea of organ transplant. He's convinced that his age (75) and preexisting medical conditions (pancreatic, kidney complications and diabetes) would reduce his chances of recovery to zero. And that's even if a transplant department would approve it.
Our surgical appointment was just cancelled until next week but we're seeing the oncologist tomorrow. Hopefully, we'll get a sense of what the best way forward is considering his overall health.
Like so many things, life has a habit of catching you sideways. The learning curve never ends!
My 3-year old grand daughter Cassandra has made a remarkable recovery since her liver transplant. She was released from the hospital after two more rounds of requisite chemo (post-transplant) and has bounced back far quicker than anyone expected. She is scheduled to have her trach removed in April, her stomach-peg pulled shortly and is already enrolled for a pre-K program in the fall.
It's hard to get my head around after all the turmoil, worry and grave medical reports of the past year. But the Warrior Princess is back on her feet and will enjoy her 4th birthday in late May.
My husband also was given very good news. More turmoil and worry. However, his liver carcinoma was spotted early, removed in late October. Took about two + months to get back on his feet but the followup with the surgeon and oncologist indicated no need for additional therapy (chemo). He was grateful for that. He'll require additional 3-6 month monitoring to keep an eye on the liver. The second worrisome spot has had no growth and his blood results are normal. The surgeon is thinking that is most likely a cyst; it's buried deep in the tissue and bc of his liver damage they decided to leave it.
Thus far, 2024 has treated us well on the medical front. Quite a journey though!
You must feel as if the weight of the world dropped off your shoulders.
Better than I honestly thought we could hope for but the Universe was remarkably kind, the doctors skilled and my grand daughter and husband brave and resilient.
I'm exceedingly grateful and relieved. We dodged several bullets.
It's been interesting to say the least. I may just scrub 2023 from my brain cells.
But . . . the outcome in 2024 was all positive. And yes, the month of May will b a humdinger.
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