Re: Experimental Treatment for Liver Cancer (inoperable)?
From: Orac (orac_at_mac.com)
Date: 06/18/04
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Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2004 01:26:23 GMT
In article <40d1f6af$0$93067$892e0abb@auth.newsreader.octanews.com>,
"Thomas T. Veldhouse" <veldy71@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hello.
>
> I have just learned of my Father's terminal case of inoperable liver
> cancer. It is a secondary cancer that spread from a previously treated
> case of rectal cancer. Apparently, the doctor did not get the cancer
> before it metasticized (sp?). The tumor is deep inside the liver and he
> was told it was inoperable. He was also told of new cancer in three
> lymph nodes near the site of the original cancer.
>
> What I am wondering is if there is any resource where I might
> investigate the use of various treatments, but in particular, if it was
> possible to find resources on experimental treatments. I would like to
> do the research whether he would be a likely candidate for such a
> program or not. Essentially, I need the ability to brainstorm and knock
> off options later. I just can't possibly believe that their isn't
> something that just might offer some benefit, even if it is to only
> extend his life a couple of years with relative peace.
>
> Thank you in advance for any assistance you might be able to provide.
Who told your father the tumor is inoperable? The medical oncologist or
the surgeon? Personally, I would *strongly* recommend having your father
see a surgical oncologist who specializes in hepatobiliary surgery and
get another opinion. Although I'm not a hepatobiliary surgeon, I have
observed that, in the tertiary care centers I've worked thus far, a
significant minority of patients referred to our oncologists with
"inoperable" liver metastases turn out not to be so inoperable after all.
As you may know by now, surgery is the only modality that has a chance
of producing long-term survival for patients with isolated liver
metastases from colorectal cancer. True, it's only around a 30% chance
at best, but if it were me I'd definitely go for it if possible. No
other modality produces a five year survival that is anywhere even close
to that. If liver metastases from colorectal cancer can be resected
safely and completely, in general they usually should be.
Contraindications to liver resection for colorectal cancer metastases
include disease outside the liver (which means it is important to find
out if those lymph nodes truly have tumor in them--a PET scan may be
helpful there), metastases in both major lobes of the liver (although
sometimes this can be gotten around, depending on the exact location of
the metastases), number of metastases (the exact number is
controversial, but usually more than four is the cutoff), location of
metastases (for instance, involving certain major liver blood vessels)
and liver dysfunction severe enough that the patient would go into liver
failure if the amount of liver necessary to get the tumor(s) out were
removed.
Hope this helps, and good luck. Even if the tumor is inoperable, there
are several palliative measures that might improve survival somewhat and
improve quality of life, including radiofrequency ablation of the tumors
and/or chemotherapy.
--
Orac |"A statement of fact cannot be insolent."
|
|"If you cannot listen to the answers, why do you
| inconvenience me with questions?"
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