My dad was diagnosed with liver cancer…need advice?
My dad was diagnosed with liver cancer. He already has diabetes and severe liver cirrhosis. He is 63 years old. We have seen a variety of cancer specialists. They all pretty much say the same thing, my dad is in a really tough position – where they can’t help him. Anything they could do would kill him. Right now he is home on hospice and I stay there a lot to help take care of him. His energy levels are depleting quickly and I don’t know what to do. He can barely get out of bed most the time, uses a wheel chair when he does, and gets tired just talking. What should I do? Is there anything I can do to help get him some energy back? Should I continue to pursue cancer research programs for him as a last resort? Can alternative medicine be taken seriously in his condition and how? Are these all signs he is going to die sooner than later? I am scared and I do not know if I should just except that he is dying or aggressively search for answers despite what the doctors are saying. Any advice?
well, i certainly sympathize with you. i lost an aunt that was very close to me last december due to inoperable liver cancer, and i spent a lot of time taking care of her and being with her. you probably don’t want to hear this, and it is very hard, but if the docs say there is not much they can do, and hospice (my wife has been a hospice nurse also) is coming in, then you should try and accept the inevitable, as hard as that will be. at this point, there really isn’t any treatment that will make a lot of difference, and i would guess that you wouldn’t want your father subjected to any more than he can endure at this point. i know, it is scary, and his energy levels are going to diminish as time goes by. talk with the hospice nurse, if you have a good one, they can be a big comfort, not only to your father, but to you and your family as well, that’s what they are there for. make sure the nurse keeps you informed, so you know what to expect, and what you can do for him. if she, or you, feels he is in pain, have the doc prescribe something for him. be there for him, and let him know you love him, as i’m sure you do, no matter how hard it is on you. even though he is ill, cherish the moments you and him will have. i’m sorry that i can’t offer more help than this, and will keep you in my prayers.
This is tough.
I’ve known a couple of people who had liver cancer.
Let’s just say… searching for a cure will take up precious time you can otherwise spend at his side.
You have to be strong and start accepting the inevitable.
*******
When my dad nad leukemia at 67, one day we were looking into physical rehab places to send him to, to begin recovering from the toll the cancer and chemotherapy had on his body. It seemed like he was doing better at the time, that very evening he was gone.
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I do not know what you should do other then be very supportive. My mother passed away 13 years ago with pancreatic cancer. All we could do was be there for her and if you believe in it pray.
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Liver cancer is often terminal, but keep up your hopes for a remission, listen to the doctors, I don’t think alternative medicine is an option in such a serious disease
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nina plz read this completely so that u can help u r dad
Liver biopsy
Liver biopsy is considered to provide the definite diagnosis of liver cancer. A sample of the liver or tissue fluid is removed with a fine needle and is checked under a microscope for the presence of cancer cells. In about 70% of cases, the biopsy is positive for cancer. In most cases, there is little risk to the patient from the biopsy procedure. In about 0.4% of cases, however, the patient develops a fatal hemorrhage from the biopsy because some tumors are supplied with a large number of blood vessels and bleed very easily.
Laparoscopy
The doctor may also perform a laparoscopy to help in the diagnosis of liver cancer. First, the doctor makes a small cut in the patient’s abdomen and inserts a small, lighted tube called a laparoscope to view the area. A small piece of liver tissue is removed and examined under a microscope for the presence of cancer cells.
Clinical staging
Currently, the pathogenesis of HCC is not well understood. It is not clear how the different risk factors for HCC affect each other. In addition, the environmental factors vary from region to region.
Treatment
Treatment of liver cancer is based on several factors, including the type of cancer (primary or metastatic); stage (early or advanced); the location of other primary cancers or metastases in the patient’s body; the patient’s age; and other coexisting diseases, including cirrhosis. For many patients, treatment of liver cancer is primarily intended to relieve the pain caused by the cancer but cannot cure it.
Surgery
Few liver cancers in adults can be cured by surgery because they are usually too advanced by the time they are discovered. If the cancer is contained within one lobe of the liver, and if the patient does not have either cirrhosis, jaundice, or ascites, surgery is the best treatment option. Patients who can have their entire tumor removed have the best chance for survival. Unfortunately, only about 5% of patients with metastatic cancer (from primary tumors in the colon or rectum) fall into this group. If the entire visible tumor can be removed, about 25% of patients will be cured. The operation that is performed is called a partial hepatectomy, or partial removal of the liver. The surgeon will remove either an entire lobe of the liver (a lobectomy) or cut out the area around the tumor (a wedge resection).
Chemotherapy
Some patients with metastatic cancer of the liver can have their lives prolonged for a few months by chemotherapy, although cure is not possible. If the tumor cannot be removed by surgery, a tube (catheter) can be placed in the main artery of the liver and an implantable infusion pump can be installed. The pump allows much higher concentrations of the cancer drug to be carried to the tumor than is possible with chemotherapycarried through the bloodstream. The drug that is used for infusion pump therapy is usually floxuridine (FUDR), given for 14-day periods alternating with 14-day rests. Systemic chemotherapy can also be used to treat liver cancer. The medications usually used are 5-fluorouracil (Adrucil, Efudex) or methotrexate (MTX, Mexate). Systemic chemotherapy does not, however, significantly lengthen the patient’s survival time.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy rays or x rays to kill cancer cells or to shrink tumors. Its use inliver cancer, however, is only to give short-term relief from some of the symptoms. Liver cancers are not sensitive to radiation, and radiation therapy will not prolong the patient’s life.
Liver transplantation
Removal of the entire liver (total hepatectomy) and liver transplantation can be used to treat liver cancer. However, there is a high risk of tumor recurrence and metastases after transplantation.
Other Therapies
Other therapeutic approaches include:
Hepatic artery embolization with chemotherapy (chemoembolization).
Alcohol ablation via ultrasound-guided percutaneous injection.
Ultrasound-guided cryoablation.
Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies tagged with cytotoxic agents.
Gene therapy with retroviral vectors containing genes expressing cytotoxic agents.
Prognosis
Liver cancer has a very poor prognosis because it is often not diagnosed until it has metastasized. Fewer than 10% of patients survive three years after the initial diagnosis; the overall five-year survival rate for patients with hepatomas is around 4%. Most patients with primary liver cancer die within several months of diagnosis. Patients with liver cancers that metastasized from cancers in the colon live slightly longer than those whose cancers spread from cancers in the stomach or pancreas.
Alternative and complementary therapies
Many patients find that alternative and complementary therapies help to reduce the stress associated with illness, improve immune function, and boost spirits. While there is no clinical evidence that these therapies specifically combat disease, activities such as biofeedback, relaxation, therapeutic touch, massage therapy and guided imagery have no side effects and have been reported to enhance well-being.
Several other healing therapies are sometimes used as supplemental or replacement cancer treatments, such as antineoplastons, cancell, cartilage (bovine and shark), laetrile, and mistletoe. Many of these therapies have not been the subject of safety and efficacy trials by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The NCI has conducted trials on cancell, laetrile, and some other alternative therapies and found no anticancer activity. These treatments have varying effectiveness and safety considerations. (Laetrile, for example, has caused deaths and is not available in the U.S.) Patients using any alternative remedy should first consult their doctor in order to prevent harmful side effects or interactions with traditional cancer treatment.
Coping with cancer treatment
Side effects of treatment, nutrition, emotional well-being, and other issues are all parts of coping with cancer. There are many possible side effects for a cancer treatment that include:
constipation
delirium
fatigue
fever, chills, sweats
nausea and vomiting
mouth sores, dry mouth, bleeding gums
pruritus (itching)
affected sexuality
sleep disorders
Anxiety, depression, feelings of loss, post-traumatic stress disorder, affected sexuality, and substance abuse are all possible emotional side-effects. Patients should seek out a support network to help them through treatment. Loss of appetite before, during, and after a treatment can also be of concern. Other complications of coping with cancer treatment include fever and pain.
Clinical trials
There are many clinical trials in place studying new types of radiation therapy and chemotherapy, new drugs and drug combinations, biological therapies, ways of combining various types of treatment for liver cancer, side effect reduction, and quality of life. Information on clinical trials can be acquired from the National Cancer Institute at http://www.nci.nih.gov or (800) 4-CANCER.
Prevention
There are no useful strategies at present for preventing metastatic cancers of the liver. Primary liver cancers, however, are 75% to 80% preventable. Current strategies focus on widespread vaccination for hepatitis B, early treatment of hereditary hemochromatosis (a metabolic disorder), and screening of high-risk patients with alpha-fetoprotein testing and ultrasound examinations.
Lifestyle factors that can be modified in order to prevent liver cancer include avoidance of exposure to toxic chemicals and foods harboring molds that produce aflatoxin. Most important, however, is avoidance of alcohol and drug abuse. Alcohol abuse is responsible for 60% to 75% of cases of cirrhosis, which is a major risk factor for eventual development of primary liver cancer. Hepatitis is a widespread disease among persons who abuse intravenous drugs.
References :
BOOKS
Berkow, Robert, et al., eds. "Hepatic and Biliary Disorders:Neoplasms of the Liver." In The Merck Manual of Diag nosis and Therapy. Rahway, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories, 1997.
Dollinger, Malin. Everyone’s Guide to Cancer Therapy. Kansas City: Somerville House Books Limited, 1994.
Friedman, Lawrence S. "Liver, Biliary Tract, & Pancreas." InCurrent Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 1998. Stamford, CT: Appleton & Lange, 1997.
Isselbacher, K.J., and J.L. Dienstag. "Tumors of the Liver and Biliary Tract." In Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medi cine. Fauci, Anthony S., et al., eds. New York:McGraw-Hill, 1998.
Loeb, Stanley, et al., eds. "Liver Cancer." In Professional Guide to Diseases. Springhouse, PA: Springhouse Corporation, 1991.
Rudolph, Rebecca E., and Kris V. Kowdley. "Cirrhosis of the Liver." In Current Diagnosis 9. Conn, Rex B., et al., eds. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company, 1997.
Way, Lawrence W. "Liver." In Current Surgical Diagnosis & Treatment. Stamford, CT: Appleton & Lange,
PERIODICALS
El-Serag, H.B. "Epidemiology of Hepatocellular Carcinoma"Clinics in Liver Disease (February 2001): 87-107.
Macdonald, G.A. "Pathogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma"Clinical Liver Disease (February 2001): 69-85.
Yu, M.C., et al. "Epidemiology of Hepatocellular Carcinoma"Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology (September 2000):703-9.
ORGANIZATIONS
American Cancer Society. 1599 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA30329. (800) 227-2345. http://www.cancer.org.
American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). 1759 R St.NW, Washington, DC 20009. (800) 843-8114. http://www.aicr.org.
American Liver Foundation. 908 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. (800) 223-0179.
Cancer Care, Inc. 275 Seventh Ave., New York, NY10001.(800) 813-HOPE. http://www.cancercare.org.
Cancer Hope Network. Suite A., Two North Rd., Chester, NJ 07930.(877) HOPENET. http://www.cancerhopenetwork.org.
Hospicelink. Hospice Education Institute, 190 Westbrook Rd., Essex, CT, 06426-1510. (800) 331-1620. http://www.hospiceworld.com.
National Cancer Institute (National Institutes of Health). 9000Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892. (800) 422-6237.http://www.nci.nih.gov.
The Wellness Community. Suite 412, 35 E. Seventh St., Cincinnati, OH 45202. (888) 793-9355. http://www.wellness-community.org.
Rebecca J. Frey, Ph.D
Laura Ruth, Ph.D.
QUESTIONS TO ASK THE DOCTOR
What type of liver cancer do I have?
What is the stage of the disease?
What are the treatment choices? Which do you recommend? Why?
What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment?
What are the chances that the treatment will be successful?
What new treatments are being studied in clinical trials?
How long will treatment last?
Will I have to stay in the hospital?
Will treatment affect my normal activities? If so, for how long?
What is the treatment likely to cost?
KEY TERMS
Aflatoxin; Alpha-fetoprotein; Cirrhosis; Hepatitis; Metastatic cancer.
Liver Cancer Treatment
Effective herbal medicine directly from China
http://www.4uherb.com
Liver Cancer
treat liver cancer with alternative treatments
http://www.nutrition2000.com
Diagnosis
Liver Cancer
When patients or physicians speak of liver cancer, however, they are often referring to cancer that has spread to the liver, having originated in other organs (such as the colon, stomach, pancreas, breast, and lung). Morespecifically, this type of liver cancer is called metastatic liver disease(cancer) or secondary liver cancer. Thus, the term liver cancer actually canrefer to either metastatic liver cancer or hepatocellular cancer. The subject ofthis article is hepatocellular carcinoma, which I will refer to as liver cancer.
scope of the liver cancer problem
Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world. A deadly cancer, liver cancer willkill almost all patients who have it within a year. In 1990, the World HealthOrganization estimated that there were about 430,000 new cases of liver cancer worldwide,and a similar number of patients died as a result of this disease. About threequarters of the cases of liver cancer are found in Southeast Asia (China, Hong Kong,Taiwan, Korea, and Japan). Liver cancer is also very common in sub-Saharan Africa(Mozambique and South Africa).
Related Links on MedicineNet.com
Pancreatic Cancer Info.
Answers to your questions about pancreatic cancer and more!
http://www.cancerhealthonline.com
liver cancer
Your independent guide to liver cancer.
mouth-cancer-guide.com
My mother-in-law died from pancreatic cancer.
With cancer, diabetes, and cirrhosis of the liver, he really is in a bad place. I know that it is scary. Try to learn more about liver cancer including progression of the disease from the hospice people, so you will understand more and know what to expect. It is only my opinion, but i think your time would be better spent in being with your father, and talking, and helping him to enjoy whatever he is still able to enjoy instead of spending time away from him looking for new drug trials.
You might ask one of the doctors if it is too late for THALIDOMIDE to help slow the progress of the cancer. yes, it is the same drug that caused all those terrible birth defects in the 50s – but it slows down and can kill fast growing cells – which cancer certainly is.
You know he is going to die sometime, because we all do. In one sense, all you are sure of right now is WHAT he will die of. Life is strange – you could be hit and killed by a bus long before he dies.
You said "I do not know if I should just accept that he is dying."
My best advice is to accept that he is alive RIGHT NOW. Focus on that. Don’t think about what might happen tomorrow, but do make sure that there is a will. As much as possible, treat him like himself, not like he is a sick person. Ask the hospice people if there is someone you can talk to about your own feelings.
Right now, i wish had been less scared, and that i had talked to my mother-in-law more when she was dying. Silly stuff like getting her favorite cookie recipe.
Aside from getting him to eat, there really is not much you can do to help him get energy back. Cortisone could do that, but while it might give him more energy for a day, it will cause even more harm.
I am sure there are people out there who really believe that they could cure him, or make him better with herbs or something. I don’t believe it.
References :
well, i certainly sympathize with you. i lost an aunt that was very close to me last december due to inoperable liver cancer, and i spent a lot of time taking care of her and being with her. you probably don’t want to hear this, and it is very hard, but if the docs say there is not much they can do, and hospice (my wife has been a hospice nurse also) is coming in, then you should try and accept the inevitable, as hard as that will be. at this point, there really isn’t any treatment that will make a lot of difference, and i would guess that you wouldn’t want your father subjected to any more than he can endure at this point. i know, it is scary, and his energy levels are going to diminish as time goes by. talk with the hospice nurse, if you have a good one, they can be a big comfort, not only to your father, but to you and your family as well, that’s what they are there for. make sure the nurse keeps you informed, so you know what to expect, and what you can do for him. if she, or you, feels he is in pain, have the doc prescribe something for him. be there for him, and let him know you love him, as i’m sure you do, no matter how hard it is on you. even though he is ill, cherish the moments you and him will have. i’m sorry that i can’t offer more help than this, and will keep you in my prayers.
References :
You said your dad was diagnosed, so I assumed he already had the biopsy and firm diagnosis.
Not all liver cancer are the same, even though most have bad prognosis.
It sounds like you need a local support group or some sorts of support. This is always a difficult situation losing loved ones. I would stick with traditional medicine rather than alternative medicine, unless it is shown to provide comfort and good supportive supplement.
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There is a product called ambrotose, now I’m not going to say it will cure him but it can give your dad a fighting chance. Ambrotose is a glyco nutrient a type of sugar our body needs to help strengthen cells and build the immune system. I know it works because I have lupus, and I was on the verge of death few years back. I took the ambrotose in large quantities and I’m here today. If you decide to try the ambrotose you can give him an entire jar in one day it won’t hurt him. You can check it out at http://www.glycostory.com/teamval or for a more scientific review http://www.glycoscience.org and you can look up the disease specific review their. I hope you’ll give it a try it can really help.
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