Anyone know much about liver cancer?

Question

My close friend has cancer of the liver and pancrease, shes been ill for a long time and has lost 3 stone - she was small anyway!, I asked on here a few months ago about it and alot of people said these two cancers are bad news, and i checked the net and all the websites also said this

Basically my friend went to the hospital last week to find out whts tretment she will need and they have told here the tumors are very rare and very slow gorowng and that she doesnt need any treatment, although they will keep an eye on her. they have told her to carry on and not think of it.

Does this make sence to anyone, cause im confused!!

Yeah i read that it is realldy bad, but thats why i am confused.


my freind has been told she needs no treatment, thats the cancer is not dangerous and that its really rare and slow/non gorwing.. although it already spread to her liver from pancrease?

I cant imagine them lying to her? she would want the truth.

The doctor was very happy for her and told her its all going ot be ok. thats the tumor is one of the rarest and isnt dangerous.

they would say that if she was going to die?

Thank you Grizzler, this is whats the tumor is (an neuroendocine tumour )

sounds like my friend is very lucky

Answer 1

It sounds like she's very "lucky" and has a neuroendocine tumour of the pancreas with liver mets. Normally with pancreatic adenocarcinoma with liver mets she would probably have passed away within the timesclae of "months" that you describe, and neuroendocrine tumours are often very slow growing.

They will monitor her for signs of carcinoid syndrome, which if you are concerned, you can ask the consultant in charge, and if she develops this then it is still not all doom and gloom.

Considering the diagnosis you were told before, this is truely a wonderful piece of news, and in my experience, most neuroendocine patients in this situation have a life expectancy many multiples that of adenocarcinoma.

Answer 2

I do not know what to say. My mother had colon and liver cancer and was told she was terminal. Doctors told her that if only she had colon cancer she would have more chance that it was because of the tumours in the liver that they could do nothing. She was operated of the colon and had the tumour removed and was offered chemo for the liver cancer. After the first three sessions of chemo she had an MRI scan and was told that the tumours had shrank a little but from there on wards the chemo did not work at all. Sadly my mother passed away May 2006 after fighting cancer for a year and 5 months.I wish your friend all the best and I pray every day for a cure for all types of cancers. God Bless.

Answer 3

There is a type of slow growing tumor that could originate in the pancreas and also spred to the liver. It is called a Carcinoid malignancy. I have no idea if this is what your friend has or not, but you should ask.

http://www.carcinoid.org/

"Carcinoid cancer and related neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are small, slow growing tumors found mostly in the gastrointestinal system, but can be in other parts of the body such as the pancreas and the lung. Since most of these grow very slowly, compared to other cancers, it usually takes many years before they become sizable or cause symptoms."

Answer 4

My friend sis died a few months ago from endocrine cancer of the liver. the liver and pancreas play a part on us living. check out the functions of both of these red organs and you will get a better understanding on why it's detrimental when they are not functioning properly. Bad News is not the word. I am sorry to read about this, pancreatic cancer you don't usually live long after it's discovered. See if the cancer research has any ongoing experimental research. I read that Ted Kennedy did this for his son when he was diagnoise with a rare cancer. He survived. (smile)

Answer 5

Hi, I am so sorry to hear about your friends condition. Is it possible that your friends parents or partner have been involved and that they may have told the doctor that she wouldn't cope with the truth. Or sometimes the doctors themselves will decide to shield the patient from the truth in the hope that they will try and lead a normal as possible life and not give in. Thirdly could your friend have told you this to protect you from upset. From my understanding of the condition as a very experienced nurse I fear her time must be limited and she should plan to do all the things shes ever dreamed of whilst she is fit enough. Also I lost my own mother from this condition just a couple of years ago.

Answer 6

My mum is being treated for liver cancer (also bowel,bladder & uterus!!) . Her specialists said they haven't got a problem with the other places and will operate to remove it, but she had 7 slow growing tumours on her liver which were inoperable at the time of diagnosis, she has been having chemo to shrink them (which is working) and they hope to operate later this year after more chemo... so it's not necessarily a death sentence having liver cancer, it's a regenerative organ that can heal itself in a lot of ways. I'd speak to the specialist again-ask them to explain things better, or contact the MacMillan team for advice/information-they're very helpful and will put you in touch with someone who can give you more info. Christie Hospital (cancer hospital) have a patient advice team you can email them ; [e-mail] for any more info too. Hope this helps!!

Answer 7

Please see the web pages for more details on Liver cancer, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Gallbladder cancer, Pancreatic cancer(Carcinoma).
Hepatocellular carcinoma (hepatoma) usually occurs in patients with cirrhosis and is common in areas where infection with hepatitis B and C viruses is prevalent. Symptoms and signs usually are nonspecific. Diagnosis is based on α‑fetoprotein (AFP) levels, imaging tests, and sometimes liver biopsy. Screening with periodic AFP measurement and ultrasound is sometimes recommended for high-risk patients. Prognosis is grim, but small localized tumors can sometimes be cured by surgical resection or liver transplantation.
Gallbladder and bile duct tumors are a frequent cause of extrahepatic biliary obstruction. Symptoms may be absent but often are constitutional or reflect biliary obstruction. Diagnosis is based on ultrasound, CT, or cholangiography. Prognosis is usually poor. Mechanical bile drainage can often relieve pruritus, recurrent sepsis, and pain due to biliary obstruction.
Pancreatic cancer, primarily ductal adenocarcinoma, accounts for about 30,500 cases and 29,700 deaths in the US annually. Symptoms include weight loss, abdominal pain, and jaundice. Diagnosis is by CT. Treatment is surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Prognosis is poor because disease is often advanced at the time of diagnosis.

Answer 8

The only thing I know about liver cancer is that it progresses rapidly and once cancer is in your liver, you may not have much time to live because it quickly moves to other organs and shuts them down.
Sorry that your friend is going through this, however, I feel she does need to know the truth. If she is willing to look at info you have researched, then show it to her but if not then don't push it. Everybody handles illness and death in their own way and she may be better off going about her life then dwelling on it.

Answer 9

my husband had cancer of the pancreas and secondary cancer of the liver.
he started to get ill in sep04 and died in June 05, he had a very aggressive cancer he lost so much weight in such a short time.
try green tea that will help the body get rid of the toxins, and whole almonds.
good luck i will remember you in my prayers.

Answer 10

im so sorry to hear about your friend ,my dad was diagnosed with bowel and liver cancer in oct 05 ,they offered chemo 2 prolong his life but it did not work ,sadly we lost him in july 06 .my heart goes out to you all