Mother in law just diagnosed with liver cancer - need help!!

beckpepp · New User Joined: 24 Jun 2009 Posts: 2

Hi. I am new to this website but was hoping I could get some help and guidance from you. My mother in law was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 2.5 years ago and had a hysterectomy and 6 months chemo which resulted in her being told the cancer had gone. One year on she has now been told that she has liver tumours and a tumour on the outside of her abdomen. I am not sure if she has been told very little, or if she is not passing it on to us but I feel very under-knowledged compared to last time. She was originally told that she will have another 6 months of chemo. She had 1 session which was only half of what she had last time as her liver was inflamed and they didnt think she could cope with it. Since then she has pretty much been in hospital constantly. She had fluid which was being drained twice a day from her abdomen (approx 2 litres per day for 2-3 days at a time) Sorry if I am being too crude but she also had a problem with her bowel that meant she basically vomited faeces. She was only allowed to sip liquid for a few days. Yesterday she was released from hospital after eating a meal and having bowel movements which I guess if a good thing but Im worried for her future. She appears fine in herself but noone is telling her anything. The local hospital that she was in had a conference call with the consultants at the hospital in London treating her but they have told her they want to discuss the results of that call face to face at a previously arranged appt next Monday. Should a scan not show up exactly where the tumours and cancer are - they seem to be very vague when telling her exactly what is wrong. Does she have secondary liver cancer as she has previously had it in the ovaries? Can anyone tell me what to expect next? She ahs been told by the doctors that they are never going to completely get rid of this cancer - does that mean she is termially ill? They havent told her what stage she is at also - is that normal? How will this disease progress? I have already prepared myself for the fact that she probably hasnt got long left but my husband is blissfully positive about it. Any advice or past experiences will be much received?

brainman

Hi beckpepp. I am very sorry about your mother's cancers. Are you sure that the tumor in her liver a primary liver cancer and not a recurrence of her ovarian cancer? While either are possible, with her history of ovarian cancer it is very likely that she has metastatic ovarian cancer. This is not an inconsequential difference. The two are treated differently and have different outlooks. Unfortunately, if I am right about this been a case of metastatic cancer, it is much more difficult to successfully treat since the cancer has already proven that it is more than capable to spread to other parts of her body.

You, your children, and your wife are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=2405
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=2528
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 3: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Twitter: @JimHawkins54

beckpepp · New User Joined: 24 Jun 2009 Posts: 2

When she had the ovarian cancer she had a full hysterectomy so how can the cancer be back in the same form? Sorry to sound ignorant but I cant get my head round this!!! I assumed the liver cancer was secondary as the primary was in the ovary and now it has noved on. Have I misunderstood?

brainman

Hi beckpepp,

You and I are actually assuming the same thing... that the tumor in the liver is a metastasis (secondary growth) of the ovarian cancer (primary). It is not at all unusual for a cancer to spread even if the original organ has been totally removed. The problem is the some cancer cells could have already moved out of her ovaries by the time the surgery was performed. However, you should clarify this with her medical team. Ask them if this is a metastatic recurrence or a totally new cancer.

Have a good rest of the weekend.
_________________
Jim
Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=2405
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=2528
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 3: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Twitter: @JimHawkins54

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