Not sure if I am in the right forum, i will give it a try anyway.
My dad had to have his gall bladder removed due to gall stones. The surgery was cancelled by the anesthesia doctor because no stress test was given for his heart, well they found that he had 80 to 90% blockage in the main artery but could not due surgery because of the fluid that had suddenly built up in his belly, so they drained it and had to find out what caused it so they eventually did a biopsy on his liver.
They diagnosed him with hepatocellular cancer ( primary liver cancer ) and after doing a ct scan, said there was nothing that could be done for this type of cancer, said he had a 7 cm tumor on the inside of his liver and gave him six months to live and told him chemo could maybe prolong his life a few months, but that would be it.
He has decided not to take chemo for his grand kids sake, what is another 2 months. I have been looking up a lot of things on the internet and have maybe gotten my hopes up for not. I do not want to go with my dad about the info for incase I just read what I wanted to read.
Please help, any info or advise would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance
I am sorry for what you are going through! You should check out the death and dying board. Remember that even though these doctors give time lines they are not God. I don't know much about the cancer, but have you checked into any clinical trials? It might be worth looking into. My thoughts will be with you!
Thank yall so much, I am still trying to figure out what to do, I just cant belive what is really going on with my dad, after reading some of the post, it's hard, reality is a very strong reality.
not sure about clinical trials, where would i find info about that
thanks
I recently had an aunt die of gall bladder cancer and when I was trying to find some treatment ideas for her I just typed in Oklahoma cancer trials (where I am from) and it brought several up. Some were near-by, some were not. Cancer is such a bad thing. It has taken so many of my loved ones. Thoughts and prayers!
What part of the country do you live in? Do you have a local teaching hospital close? A major university hospital? I would contact the closest one. I have heard that liver cancer is a bear but, if the tumor is confined to one area....it could be removed. I would definately do as much research and don't give up! My sister just fought a two year battle with cancer and won. It happens every day!
Zambucca, thank you so much, we have Tulane not to far, but my dad, I think, does not to take treatments of any kind. Does not want to put his grand-kids through that, although not giving up, everyones prayers will help, if it is god will.
40% of his liver is nolonger working, so we have to pray for him and strength.
wonderful for your sister hope everything stays well
prayers,prayers Veronica
People hang onto hope for as long as they can - and that's ok.
In my family's case we hoped for a cure - and then gradually that changed to hoping that our Dad would be at peace without pain.
With the help of Hospice (I strongly recommend them) we attained that second hope.
No one can be expected to accept the news that one's parent is dying. And that there really is nothing that humans can do. We go through stages from denial, etc. to a final acceptance at the news that someone or ourselves will not live forever.
Hope is a good thing. Just be aware that what you hope/pray for may change a bit over time...
Thank you so much, my dad, I think, does not want to take treatments of any kind,even if there were more avaliable to him, Does not want to put his grand-kids through that, although not giving up, everyones prayers will help, if it is god will.
40% of his liver is nolonger working, so we have to pray for him and strength.
Just like with your dad i guess, please stay strong.
I am trying and will keep praying for a miracle.
We will get a Christmas miracle, my dad comes from a very close family of six brothers and sisters, my dad has been all over the world and the only place he has ever got excited about was the Grand Canyon, that is the only place he ever said he wants his kids and grandkids to see it one day because that place in itself is a miracle, well so he says. well aunts and uncles and friends have all gotton together and collected money to send my family of 8, my sisters of 5 and my dad and mom to the grand canyon for christmas. That really made him happy, he could not belieave it. Have not seen him smile when we told him, like that in a long time.
So if all stays the same and he is in good health and spirts then we will be going.
thanks
prayers,prayers Veronica
i was told on dec. 3 that i have hepatocelluar carcinoma.
my tumor is 8cm and they are planning on removing it and burning or freezing about 6 small ones. Age may play a factor on whether surgery is an option. ( i am 43) But you may want to ask about that. The doctors i saw yesterday are feeling good about my surgery. At least that is what it sounded like. by the diagrams he showed me a lot of my liver will no longer be with me, but the liver regenerates.
I hope you all enjoy that vacation. my prayers are with you.
Ronnic, thank you, I think my dad needs a second opinoin but they did say that his liver is full of cancer cells, they just dont know exactly how much.
maybe that is why and he is 59 with an all of a suddun heart condition also, so maybe that is a factor also.
Goodluck too you.
Veronica
I'm sorry to hear about your dad, my mother just recently died from Liver Cancer Metasis. If he still does not want any treatment, the Hospice people are great, they helped my mother during her last days and were a big help to the family.
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Thank you so much, I think he and we will need all the help and support we can get, I am sure Hospice will be called when needed.
Sorry to here about your mother, how long did she have to go through it all? How did you handle it? I am not sure if I will be able to.
Veronica
dear Diva
I lost my dad to liver cancer....He was my best friend and my mentor. He believed I was the greatest thing that ever happened haha. I felt the same way about him!!!! There are many days I have something exciting to tell and go to call him and many other times I think wait till dad hears this and then remember.........I'm praying for you and for your dad.
cleo
My Dad has sceondary liver cancer which started in his colon. In the past they have been able to remove the tumours with a combination of chemotherepy and liver resections.
Over the past 8 years he has had long periods of time clear before the cancer has returned. In August of last year we were told that after three years of being clear the cancer had returned to his liver but also his lymphnodes.
They put him on intensive chemotherepy but he was so ill. he lost his hair and was just really weak. I hated seeing him like that it was horrible so i can understand totally why your dad does not want to go through chemotherepy.
For my Dad, unlike before surgery is not an option and they have told him that this time they will not be able to cure it. Like your Dad he now has the decision as to whether or not he has more chemotherepy to prolong his life or whether he just lets nature take its course.
I don't know how old you are but i am just 16 and have a brother who is only 12. I know we were meant to lose him 8 years ago and so are very blessed that we have been able to spend these 8 years together but still i won't have my dad there when i go to university, when i graduate, when i get married or when i have children. This really really hurts and seems so unfair.
I dont know how i feel it all seems so unreal and untrue and i am not as emotional this time as i have been in the past. I don't know what to do. I hope we can help each other as we can understand what we are all going through.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and i pray God can guide and bless you and your family.
Spag, thank you so much for your reply, I commend you for being so mature through out your dads illness, at one point I thought i was going through the worst thing in the world, but as I see there are less fortunate then me.
I am 32 years old with children of my own, and my dad has been there for all that, I cant think about if this would have happened when I was in high school.
My dad seems to be ok he has his good, bad and really bad days, we will just see how it goes.
Thank you so much for your prayers, you and your family will also be put in ours, and if you ever need to chat i am here.
Cleo, I have to admit, you just made me cry, my dad is still with us and has his good, bad and worse days, in time i am sure the thought of losing him will get eaiser but reality still has not hit me,and if he does pass then to me that will be devestating.
Thank you Diva10 for your message. i am nearly in tears I don't know why. I suppose for the first time in a while i really feel like people understand and really care. I love my friends i really do but they don't really know what it is like and even though they were really caring at the beginning its a bit like old news now.
What is happening with your Dad now? Do you do anything to help you cope with it all? I don't know about you but it all seems very unreal at the moment and hard to get my head round. Your Dad is still quite young just like mine. My Dad first got cancer when he was just 42 His friend died from it in his late 30's. My Dad celebrated his 50th birthday on Christmas Day. It seems very young to have him taken away.
Take care and thanks for your support. I am here for you as well and understand what it is like.
Cleo, I have to admit, you just made me cry, my dad is still with us and has his good, bad and worse days, in time i am sure the thought of losing him will get eaiser but reality still has not hit me,and if he does pass then to me that will be devestating.
When does the thoughts and pain ease?
How long has it been since your dad has passed?
Thanks for your reply
I will be praying for you
dearest Diva I'm sorry for making you cry, when I just thought about how my post must have made you feel, I could have kicked myself!!!! Dad's cancer was a metastase, they first discovered his cancer in his bowel did surgery for the bowel but said they couldn't do anything but offer chemo for the liver. He took the chemo and although it didn't help, it didn't make him sick either. He was my hero, and I have to say the pain hasn't gotten easier yet. He passed two years ago, with all his children around him. His cancer had spread to his lungs and bone etc. He was his charming self right to the end. I have a co-worker who had liver cancer and had a piece of her liver removed and is doing really well, but unfortunately it wasn't an option for dad. I have to be honest and tell you right up till the moment it was happening I didn't want to admit it could. All I can say is try anything that might help, don't give up hope and spend every second with him you can. I'll be praying for you and for him as i'm sure many others will too. I hope you find a research program that he can try, its worth it. I've heard of another lady who had similar diagnosis as dad but has tried some research drugs and is doing pretty good
i'm not sure what drugs or how she was able to try it as dad wasn't offered any such drug, but then again he was 80 and she is in her 50's. but he was a young 80 parasailing at 78. hahahah1 think positive thoughts and know my thoughts are with you and i'm here if you need a shoulder.
cleo
