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khandog
03-13-2009, 07:42 PM
i just received this report from the VA...there are 2 lesions at the right lobe of liver.smaller lesion shows enhancement suggestive hemangioma,this remains stable,the second lesionis is de novo and shows early enhancement,there is also late ring enhancement suggesting neovascularity and could represent metastatic disease.naturally a primary maligancy of the liver cannot be excluded.A biopsy may be required ,(due to the location of the lesion close to liver dome the approach may be somewhat difficult)the2 lesions are at the right side of liver one is 6mm,the second is 3.2x3.9cm....with a definite ring enhancement.my platelets are 59000 and i have addisons disease on top of hep C.If any one could help me understand i thank you in advance.Is a biopsy the only way to go?i'm worried i'll bleed out?the only way they can do it is put me out and have ct scan lead them to get the liver biopsy because of the tricky location?My DO says there crazy to do the procedure?i need some help understanding this its all way over my head and level of education. thanks ,Will

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Jema X
03-14-2009, 03:58 AM
Hi will, I'm not sure if I can help but I can tell u that my liver surgeon wouldn't biopsy my tumour (turned out not to be cancer) because liver cancer can 'seed' elsewhere very quckly. There was also the bleeding risk. I'd go for a second opinion for sure. I wish you luck. Juliet

McRegnal87
03-14-2009, 08:41 AM
Hi Will
Welcome to the liver board. There are many of us who have been offered different courses of testing and treatment. In the UK the Drs tend to shy away from biopsy because of what Juliet says about seeding the tumor. Seems they are much more likely to do this in the US though. Many of us are living with liver lesions and just watching and waiting keeping blood tests up to date and so on. It is not an easy thing to get your head round but we have all managed it somehow although I reckon speaking from a personal point of view it has made me a little more neurotic! I think you should ask for a second opinion before taking any course of action. It seems that it is very difficult for Drs to make a definitive diagnosis by just looking at scan pictures and there are some on here who had scans saying the growth was benign when it wasn't and many more who had scans that said possible malignancy and it turned out they were benign. So you can see it is difficult either way. Click on any of our names on the board to see what we have been suffering from and what the outcomes have been. The adenoma/fnh/haemangioma board has the most comprehensive list. Sorry can't be more helpful than this but feel assured that you are not alone
Mc

khandog
03-14-2009, 12:47 PM
to Mc and Juliet,Thanks for the quick return ,Seeding was just brought to my attention and it worries me!This is because of hep C and getting on the transplant list......it's like if i have cancer i get to the top of the list?this sounds crazy but the VA is out there.for all i know it could be practice for there new doctors?i have little to no pain in my liver and my numbers are ALT198...AST200...T BILI 0.90...D BILI 0.50 yes there high .with Addison's disease for over 10 yrs.now and take steroids to stay alive.however,that started the liver #'s to jump along with plate count decrease.i don't know what to do i have no history of cancer,i'm more worried of bleeding out internally.Thanks for any and all feed back i have till the end of the month to think it out .best of health to all, Will

hepcdad
03-30-2009, 04:12 AM
Hi Wil. We seem to have the exact same problem. I just found this site and I'm probably too late to offer advice to you. I've decided to have a ct-scan guided biopsy even though I was told it was in a difficult spot to biopsy. I too am worried about the bleeding, but i have read there is a type of 'glue' that would stop it. Best wishes for you and I hope you have made the right decision. Mine will be done April 3. April 4th I expect we will both post how well things went for each of us.

khandog
03-31-2009, 12:00 PM
hi there,i'm glad to hear from you .i canceled my4-1 app. but after thinking it over and over i made the app.for the 3rd.and will do the procedure. this is at the VA in Tampa ,fl. i was told there were rings left in the liver witch means it could be a fungus? this can be treatable? i read on the board about these mushrooms Reesdie i'm sure the spelling is wrong,however since i took them from the health food store my face broke out 1st with hives now i have a rash its been months...my liver rejected them and made it worse so watch what you take ?i read so much about our problem that i would do any thing ? but with addison's disease,low plattlets i should of left it alone .good luck my friend i hope we sail through this....i'll ask about the glue there talking transfussion?what ever it takes it's not in our hands any more?i'll write sat.if i can,but it may take a day or two to recover? your biopsy bud, Will

hepcdad
04-01-2009, 07:25 PM
Just to show you how similiar our problem is ...my results platelets 102-low, total bili 1.4 high direct bili .6 high. Enhancing lesion 3.2 x 2.3 cm in size ( within dome of liver) second enhancing lesion smaller, within right lobe of liver. First doctor said lesion would be hard to needle biopsy due to location. Second MRI done 4 months later, doctor said biopsy was suggested. I can't understand that one. As much as I'm worried about the biopsy, it's the only way to know for sure if the big one is cancerous. I feel for you having to deal with Addisons on top of all this, you have to be mentally drained. I agree its out of our hands now. If I have problems with the biopsy, then it was meant to be. I hope the lesion comes back benign, it'll be a big relief. If the results say cancer, then I'll deal with that later. It would give us a high ranking on the transplant list. By the way, I stay away from herbs, mushrooms and any thing that I don't know what it is. Oh, that glue I was talking about is supposed to stop heavy bleeding if that were to happen. I really do think we will be ok. Like you said, we'll sail through this..and I too will post on Saturday or Sunday. Again, best wishes. Gary

khandog
04-04-2009, 03:19 PM
Hey Gary,well i'm done it was a long day 6 hours- 2prep. and procedure then they watched me for 4 hours.to make sure the gel/glue worked and it did,i have light duty/bed rest 48 hours.it's hard to hang out with so much to do but you play you pay.i find out wed. what's up?they had to hit me twice for pain darn location ,he got 6 good slices and put em on a slide right there.they took a long hollow tool jambed it in then used a cutting/graber tool to shave the different sides for there samples?my plate count was 58000,at 50 i would of needed a transfusion boy am i glad that did'nt happen .still sore in immedete area just hope i dont spring a leak.i hope your deal went as well?let me know when you get back up to snuff? in the mean time best regaurds,Will

hepcdad
04-06-2009, 09:40 PM
Sounds like it was a rough ride but I'm really glad you came through just fine. I hope the results of the biopsy show your liver be just fine. Praying fo you my friend. Mine was scheduled for Friday, and Thursday morning my doctor called. He cancelled the biopsy and said his team of doctors decided I had to have a liver transplant. They feel my liver would eventually have to be replaced anyway, so why have the extra surgery of a biopsy. Testing will begin soon to see if I can handle a transplant mentally and physically. Man, I'm scared to death. I don't know if I should have one, or let nature just take its course. I'll have to make up my mind soon. Take care and I wish you the best.
Gary

vocalist1945
04-06-2009, 10:15 PM
i just received this report from the VA...there are 2 lesions at the right lobe of liver.smaller lesion shows enhancement suggestive hemangioma,this remains stable,the second lesionis is de novo and shows early enhancement,there is also late ring enhancement suggesting neovascularity and could represent metastatic disease.naturally a primary maligancy of the liver cannot be excluded.A biopsy may be required ,(due to the location of the lesion close to liver dome the approach may be somewhat difficult)the2 lesions are at the right side of liver one is 6mm,the second is 3.2x3.9cm....with a definite ring enhancement.my platelets are 59000 and i have addisons disease on top of hep C.If any one could help me understand i thank you in advance.Is a biopsy the only way to go?i'm worried i'll bleed out?the only way they can do it is put me out and have ct scan lead them to get the liver biopsy because of the tricky location?My DO says there crazy to do the procedure?i need some help understanding this its all way over my head and level of education. thanks ,Will

vocalist1945
04-06-2009, 10:21 PM
Hello: What kind of test did you have to verify the 2 lesions?
I have liver damage.........elevated ALT & AST and also iron levels of
471. I understand from the literature that Sjogren's Syndrome (which
I have) can actually destroy the small bile ducts in the liver. And that
is a very serious situation.
It has been suggested that I have a biopsy. Is this really dangerous?
I've never had one but I understand the chance of "bleeding" is very
real.
I am 63 (non-drinker, non-smoker....even though second-hand smoke
over the years)

hepcdad
04-07-2009, 03:21 AM
My lesions were verified by a MRI. A liver biopsy like any surgery has risks, but before this is perfomed they run simple blood tests to ensure you are capable of proper clotting. The surgery doesn't take long to do, and is not really too uncomfortable at all. They keep you for several hours after the surgery and you lay on your side.

If you have to have the lesions biopsied, that can be a bit more tricky as sometimes their location on the liver can be difficult to reach. Hope this info helps.

khandog
04-20-2009, 05:14 PM
to Juliet,Mc,hepcdad,and everyone else who responded to my thread they found cancer and i've been very depressed.the doctor is using this term chemoembolization as a bridge for there is only 2cm room for growth? i'm not sure what he's talking about and it'll be 4 weeks till i see them again.with regaurd to seeding he said i didn't have to worry about that?it did push me up on the transplant list to21 or 22.......there purposing to put a cath. into my liver and then putting some type of pellets where the cancer is ?at the same time working me up for a transplant because of the cirrhosis.i'm worried i'm not a good canidate for transplant they said i would be interviewed by a SW and it would help if i was married?i have a couple that are my best friends and would give me part of there liver but again i'd bleed out in surgery ?never the less,i have family that could live here or next door and take care of me in shifts?does this make any cents? or am i sounding like a desperate patient. at the same time my brother said RF is widely being used ? again i 'm not sure what it all means......if some of you good people could shed a little light my way it would come back in good karma .it's to bad we didn't spend the last 8 yrs.working with stem cell it seems that's all i'm reading about ... just feeling bad,take care ,Will

McRegnal87
04-20-2009, 07:34 PM
to Juliet,Mc,hepcdad,and everyone else who responded to my thread they found cancer and i've been very depressed.the doctor is using this term chemoembolization as a bridge for there is only 2cm room for growth? i'm not sure what he's talking about and it'll be 4 weeks till i see them again.with regaurd to seeding he said i didn't have to worry about that?it did push me up on the transplant list to21 or 22.......there purposing to put a cath. into my liver and then putting some type of pellets where the cancer is ?at the same time working me up for a transplant because of the cirrhosis.i'm worried i'm not a good canidate for transplant they said i would be interviewed by a SW and it would help if i was married?i have a couple that are my best friends and would give me part of there liver but again i'd bleed out in surgery ?never the less,i have family that could live here or next door and take care of me in shifts?does this make any cents? or am i sounding like a desperate patient. at the same time my brother said RF is widely being used ? again i 'm not sure what it all means......if some of you good people could shed a little light my way it would come back in good karma .it's to bad we didn't spend the last 8 yrs.working with stem cell it seems that's all i'm reading about ... just feeling bad,take care ,Will
Hi Khandog, so sorry to hear your news, if you're unsure about what your consultant is telling you I feel you should either put your questions in writing or contact him/her via the Drs secretary, write all the questions down and demand straightforward answers in plain English, you could even email them. To wait a whole month without some clear information isn't good enough. As I am based in the UK our health system is a little different- is a SW a social worker? If so I am presuming that they are working on who could look after you post transplant?
Chemoembolisation is where the doctors inject anti-cancer drugs directly into a cancerous tumor. They also cut off the blood supply to the tumor trapping the anti cancer drug just where its needed, the procedure would be similar to the biopsy, I suspect that this is all part of the pellets you mentioned.
Your brother mentioned RF does he mean radio frequency ablation? the Doctors are using this method more often to treat tumours as it can be extremely accurate with good results, meaning they can eliminate the tumor and keep it in check. This method uses microwaves to burn the tumor. Again it is done under ultrasound or scan so that they can go straight to the area affected.That will buy you time while you get further down the waiting list for a transplant. Its similar to chemoembolisation. Sorry I can't help you more- I'm sure there are others on here who know a great deal more and also understand your system in the US. Try to keep positive and good luck
Mc

khandog
04-21-2009, 01:54 AM
MC,thanks for the quick respond- even my dog khan thanks you for i have been down and feeling sorry for my self.however,your explanation is just what i needed.i went numb when they told me, addison's dosent help plus its hard to be assertive with MD's and social workers...i had tunnel vision,i know you can relate?they didn't offer radio frequency but what ever works?they want to interview my care giver?i have a team of people all willing to do what ever it takes but is that good enough?moreover,i have other medical problems,this may stand in the way.once again thanks for your in put,it really did help .your friend in fla.US .....Will

hepcdad
04-22-2009, 12:28 AM
Will,
Its the same with me too, liver cancer. They are suggesting the same thing..its called Tace. If you want my e-mail address i can explain in detail..up to you. UCLA used to do radiofrequency wave but now are doing the chemo embolism thing. I go on the transplant list next week. Many times transplants wont be done if they get over 5cm in size. Thats why they use Tace or radiowaves to shrink the tumor, to keep the size under 5cm until a donor for the transplant can be found. This can take several months or more as there are many more people waiting than there are donors. A lot depends on your blood type also. Mines O positive which is very common, therefore it may take me longer to get one. I live in Maryland and have been going to Johns Hopkins Hospital. It's an excellent hospital with world reknown doctors, so whatever info I can share with you, I will. With the exception of Addisons disease, our problems have been almost identical. If you feel the need to talk, I'll even give you my phone# in an e-mail. Keep the faith...I'm scared also, but we'll make it thru all this.

Bisous
04-22-2009, 04:54 AM
Hello Will and Mc. What stressfull situations and yet both so positive! Your strength and resilliance is to be admired and I wish nothing but the best for the two of you.

I am new to this board and came on after bloodwork showed elevated something or other of my liver. I am scheduled for an ultra sound this Fri, more extensive bloodwork next week and a colonoscopy in June. I don't know anything about my situation so I've been coming on here to read and learn. Is there such a thing as having elevated liver results and it not be anything? In other words, is it ALWAYS bad news when liver results are high? Naturally, I'm scared about this..am I dreaming to think that it may not be anything and everything'll be alright??

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Best wishes to you both.

hepcdad
04-22-2009, 01:57 PM
Elevated liver enzymes is common, and doesn't indicate a specific disease. However, even if you have no symptoms, it could be the result of liver disease. To determine the exact cause, you'd probably have to have more tests done. Some common causes of elevated enzymes are: drinking alcohol, obesity, diabetes, viral hepatitis, mononucleosis, gallstones, using herbal supplements, elevated triglycerides, or metabolic liver disease. Was testing done to measure ALT or AST? It's important which tests were 'out of range' ( high). If you have results showing which enzymes are high and how far they are out of range they are, it'd be easier to answer your question. Hope this answer helps clarify things some for you. Best wishes for you. Gary

khandog
06-06-2009, 11:13 PM
HI Mc,Gary(hepdad),well its done ...the chemoembolisation went smooth .I watched it on the screen and its very complex. I had 2 tumors one the size of a golf ball they almost did'nt have enough pellets mixed up?it was neat to watch the tumors turn black once they filled up with juice.however;could of used some pain meds,it took 4 hours and my back hurt for 2 days.So did the docs he limped out just like me. darn VA would not give up a drop no matter how much i begged .i hope there views are different during a transplant??Gee a little MSIR would of made it allot easier.i should of took my own?But thats politics and the way the ball bounces? this may go a couple of times?Then there are no magic livers waiting for me at the end of this trail? this has been so stressful with legal and other things i have had to deal with? What a head ace,for me and my family.I 'm really beat up just wanted you to know i'm alive take care talk soon .Will

McRegnal87
06-07-2009, 02:36 PM
Hi Will
Glad the chemoembolisation went well. It's a bit off that they wouldn't give you some strong painkillers. How are you feeling now? I suppose the key to all these things is take one day at a time and enjoy life as much as you can- keep posting its good to let off steam somewhere
Mc:)

hepcdad
10-11-2009, 06:25 AM
I am so glad to see you still post here! I just had the embolization 3 days ago. The tumor I had when I used to post here was about 3cm..from august 3 -aug 28 it grew to a little over 10cm.They say I may have to have this done several more times, and i no longer qualify for a transplant. I guess all I can hope for now is that it kills the cancer and will give me a little extra time to be with my family that I love so much.
Gary

khandog
10-19-2009, 03:40 PM
Hey G ,(hepcdad) and all my other friends,I' m sorry I have'nt been on the board for a long time .As you know the VA messed up at the bio-op thus,causing one of the lesions to split up and seed...and they did'nt even tell me .after the first chemoembolization (witch i wrote about),i got side tracked with diabetes on the 4th of July.the whole time there telling me i'm still a OK for trans plant.....keeping me busy with all the BS of meeting all the requirements to get a new liver .Will brothers and sisters they lied .yes the VA ,BS me into believing i could still get that transplant.then in Aug. they call me and say i need another chemoembolization?That did'nt go so well i got depressed, procedure wise they were a bunch of clowns ie.reading a book while checking my vitals,the rest i won't talk about for i don't want to flip you out.the next day they tell me the liver has sprouted some new lesions and forget about the trans plant.they knew it but said nothing about the seeding,ie;they lied to me again.Now in real time had a cat scan and blood work ,my alpha protiens went from 9 to 14 in one week.the cancer doctor wants to give me pills but after reading about side effects I'm not sure i want to go down that path?i went to my local VA today and there ready to do another chemoembolization and already gave me a date.Now i need to know what the community thinks?Yes my friends i still need your advice ask your friends your doctors any thing is better then nothing. Should i wait till my alpha pro. go up higher?thus, putting it off for a while ?At this point i feel good considering i have hep c ,cirrhosis ,However;as i was saying there is no cure.I wont feel any better then i do,I'm mostly concerned with it metasting to a different part of my body? so fare all test come back neg. it just in my liver .the size went from 3.2 to4.1 now 6.2..."the mass is mainly hypervascular containing large areas of necrosis"? also now they call the little one's Satellite lessons that can be seen through out the right lobe.Please help for i'm so confused and the lie's seem to never stop,it's like they need the data for the grants and funding?All at cost of my health ,40 yrs. ago i was sprayed with agent orange.....it sure seems like a rotten time to cash in .thanks my friends and my your karma always be good to you, so you may be good to others.love and peace,Will

McRegnal87
10-21-2009, 08:40 AM
Hi Will
Sorry you've had such a bad time of it- can't really advise on what you should do next but if the pills can help prevent metastasising to other organs that surely has to be a good thing. Hope you get some resolution to all your problems and thinking of you
Mc

McRegnal87
10-21-2009, 08:42 AM
Hi Gary
I think you have the right attitude to your situation- anything that can buy you time with your family has to be a good thing- keep strong and positive
Mc

johnhon
10-21-2009, 06:20 PM
The CDC/FDA has announced that Tylenol Kills LIVERS ( Acetaminophen is it’s fancy name). Tylenol is one of the safest medicines ever created IF taken as directed on the package for TEMPORARY uses. It’s safer than aspirin. BUT, BUT, BUT, it is used in many medicines. If ANY medicines you are using have the strength written as XX/XXX Example: 50/500 or 25/1000 stop taking them.
Check the Food and drug administration or the Center for Disease Control web sites. Then ask your doctor to change you to a drug that doesn’t have any Tylenol in it. The second number, the one after the slash, is the amount of Tylenol added to each pill.
Many drug manufactures use Tylenol with their medications as a buffer. It is safe to the stomach so combined with their medication it also becomes easier on the stomach.

A very bad scenario.. say you are prescribed 50/1000 of a anti-inflammatory drug, three times a day. Take an adult dose of Nyquil every 12 hours-- that's 2000mg more Tylenol from the Nyquil. Then take a couple extra strength Tylenol for some pain. That could be another 1000Mg up to 4 times a day.
OTHER THINGS with Acetaminophen (Tylenol).Excedrin, Midol, Pamprin, Vicoden, Percocet, and many more.
Also, Lipator and Alcohol hurt your liver.
Don’t kill yourself be careful with this stuff.

John Honsaker
P.S. Copy and pass this around.





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