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Dom 68
New User
Joined: 03 Aug 2007
Posts: 8
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 Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 1:24 pm Post subject: New to the site....my dad's story... |
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Hello, my name's Domenic. My dad was diagnosed with cirrohsis 5years ago, mainly due to alchohol, (italians like their wine). Anyway, between it and his diabetes, you would of never known he was sick. Between regualar 6 month ultra sounds, they recently found 2 growths on the liver, 1.5 cm, and 3 cm. He under went an MRI, 2 CT scans, bone scan and chest x-ray. All to determine if it had spread, and to see if a resection was an option. Well it was a go ahead with the operation to cut out the larger tumor, and freeze the smaller. 10 hours later we find out that the damage to the liver via cirrohsis was to extreme to attempt the surgery, so all he got out of it was a 12" scar. We would now be looking at attempting a "tace" or transarterial chemoembolization, which is probably happening sometime today while I'm at work here. I am sceptical as to if this will extend his life from what I've been able to find out. I am a firm believer in quality of life not quantity. I hope that even if this doesn't shrink his tumors, it doesn't hurt any liver cells.
He's a very strong 72 yr old man, and is always positive. He feels anything over 70 years of age was a bonus. He's been very close to me and my family. We've worked together and played together. I'll keep you posted as to how it goes... My heart goes out to anyone in this situation.... |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 5976
Location: Tennessee
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Dom 68
New User
Joined: 03 Aug 2007
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 3:58 am Post subject: Re: New to the site....my dad's story... |
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| Well, my dad had the tace 2 days ago, and he seems to be doing really well! We hope that this has bought some time. And yes they did a biopsy, but when I asked about it, they said it was not if it was a question of cancer, but that they wanted a sample of normal liver cells to see if he would be able to handle the tace procedure. Thanks for you prayers. I hope we can have him around with good health for awhile.... I will keep posting his progress. Thanks! |
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Cisco's Daughter
Regular
Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 1:50 pm Post subject: Re: New to the site....my dad's story... |
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Hi Domenic,
Your dad sounds like my dad, the same with the diabetes and cirrohsis situation...he also didn't seem sick. He just started losing a lot of weight and tumors were found in his liver. But he hasn't been given any hope of treatment, like TACE or anything. I feel so hopeless.
But enough of my problems...your dad is in my prayers that he'll react to the procedure and be able to be with your family for a longer time. I'm glad we can all support each other in this way, it helps a lot believe me. |
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Dom 68
New User
Joined: 03 Aug 2007
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:38 am Post subject: Re: New to the site....my dad's story... |
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| Hello, I'm very sorry to here about your father...My prayers are also with him. This seems to be an all too common scenario... I brought my dad home from the hospital this morning. He seems generally o.k. but very tired. The first evening of the day they did the TACE treatment I found him to have yellowish skin, but the next morning his color returned to him. He did have reddish cheeks though, which lasted a couple of days. Now he seems to look like before all this had started. I may be getting my hopes up, because we won't know for 4-6 weeks, when his radiologist team sees him again to see if they made any progress with the tumors. My fingers are crossed. We need a break this year... Since January, I've lost 2 uncles, and an aunt, 2 to cancer, and another uncle and my father diagnosed with cancer in the last 2 months.... Sometimes it sucks being Italian with the big families we have... You get hurt that much more when they are all so close to us....Oh well, like the Rolling Stones sang.." what a drag it is getting old"... |
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Dom 68
New User
Joined: 03 Aug 2007
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:05 pm Post subject: Update on dad.. |
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Well, here we are 4 months later, and dad has had 2 more Tace treatments since August. They told him that the small tumor is not detectable anymore, and the larger tumor has shrunk considerably in size...Other than a sore stomach which lasted a week or so..dad has responded amazingly to this treatment. He still comes in to my shop daily to help out for a few hours, and is even scheduled to take their annual trip to Mazatlan Mexico in January. You would never know this guy has cirosis, diabetes and cancer!! Even if this progress is shortlived, I think we need to remember that everyday alive and well is a gift. I only wish this progress would of been possible with so many others who are, and have suffered in the past. At least I hope this is a positive message to others who may be in question about this procedure... I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas, and for those of you who have lost or are losing loved ones...to have faith that you will see them again some day....
-Dom |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 5976
Location: Tennessee
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laupw
Regular
Joined: 03 Jul 2007
Posts: 19
Location: Wiltshire, England
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| Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 8:39 am Post subject: Re: New to the site....my dad's story... |
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Hello Dom,
This is excellent news! There is hope.
Wish you all the best Christmas, both you and your Father.
God bless you,
phil |
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Dom 68
New User
Joined: 03 Aug 2007
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:00 pm Post subject: Re: New to the site....my dad's story... |
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| Hello again... I must apologize for not posting our experience since we last left off. My father has been extremley lucky in that the TACE was effective in postponing the effects of the cancer for a couple of years now. He has been enjoying retirement and traveling yearly. But after his last tace treatment in July, we noticed a down turn. He then was scheduled for another tace treatment but they had said that they were no longer able to perform the procedure due to the portal vein being blocked or collapsed. He has since began to build up ascites. He is now being drained of 4 to 5 litres every 2 weeks. He is now feeling considerably weaker. I fear that this terrible disease has now run it's course and our time is very limited. The doctor tells us the ascites is from a combination of both the cancer and the cirrosis, but I wonder if it's just that the portal vein is blocked and the liver is not functioning anymore. At the last ct scan, they said he had a spot on his lung. So yes the cancer has spread, but what are we to expect? How long does he have? No one can tell us, so we just take it one day at a time. I promise to keep you posted, and again for anyone having to go through this, I hope you have the support of loved ones around you. This makes more difference than any doctors can. The doctors take the human content out of these situations, but friends and family never turn away. Take Care and talk to you again soon. |
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Dom 68
New User
Joined: 03 Aug 2007
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 1:36 pm Post subject: Update...Dec 10,2009 |
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My dad is having his ascites drained again today... for the 4rth time. He seems to need to be drained once aweek now, or he has a tough time breathing, and has pain due to the bloating. He feels week, but is still walking / puttzing around the house. Not much jaundice in the skin, and none in the eyes. No swelling in the arms or legs yet. So we plug along. I will update regularly. Take care all of you, and best Christmas wishes.
-Dom |
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Dom 68
New User
Joined: 03 Aug 2007
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 3:33 am Post subject: Our story continues... |
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| So dad is being drained of about 6 liters of ascites every week. He's week but still plugging along. He walks about the house every few hours. Otherwise he'll just watch t.v. and relax. Palliative care nurses pay a visit once a week. My mom says they are very nice, but always seem to be a bleak reminder of what's to come. My dad still hopes that his liver will kick-in and no more fluid will build up. But he always gets a dose of reality whenever asking a doctor or nurse if he will ever recover. The biggest problem he, and all of us have is accepting this at point blank. He has stretched the odds up until now. Which may be why we have a hard time swallowing the worst. I hope that we have done all we can. I wonder if we should of looked into alternative methods. But the fear of doing more damage always presents itself. I'll keep posting as we plug along. Take care and again may all of you have a Merry Christmas and Great New Year!! |
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Dom 68
New User
Joined: 03 Aug 2007
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 1:39 am Post subject: Update: |
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| update: Dad had continued a regimen of being drained of about 6 liters of ascites every week. He has been in pain most days, and has had little to no energy. Yet he would eat 3 times a day, walk about the house a little, and occasionally go out with mom for a few grocery's maybe once a week. Today I received a call from my mom that he was not responding to her and just laying in bed. I went over and found that he had gotten up, but seemed confused, and just made his way to lay on the couch and conked out again. I found him to be barely responsive. We'd talk to him and he would just open his eyes to look at us and go to sleep again. Palliative nurses were called and said judging by his last blood work that potassium levels were very high and he should go to the hospital. Dad has maintained that he did not want to expire in the hospital but they said maybe he could get some treatment for his confusion and then come back home. Doctors at the hospital confirmed that it was not only the potassium, but the toxicity of the blood, and that he was becoming comatose. They did talk us into trying some oral meds (sorry I did not record the names of them) to try and bring down the high ammonia & potassium levels. I stayed with mom until 10:00p.m but he showed no signs of improvement. He will spend the night, and then get the scheduled fluid tap tomorrow, and then more likely we will bring him home. All that passes through my mind is why he is being subjected to one level of suffering after another. No one will give us a best / worst scenario as to how long he has left. I'm left more and more to think of how unfair and cruel life can be to those that truly don't deserve it. I will try to post as we progress through this mess.... |
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