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All those with Knowledge
I just got over Hep c and it was at least my 4th try, but now I'm trying to learn as much as I can about liver cancer. I was told I need to be watched because of all the scarring I have but cant understand too much about cancer. I lost a daughter to lung cancer and she didn't even smoke and I dont understand how anyone is checked for this. Do they just look at it with a ultra sound or is there a blood test? I keep hearing people going to doctors all the time and the next thing you hear they have stage 4 cancer, what happened to 1,2,3, stages? How can someone have cancer and are going to doctors all the time and never a hint you might have cancer. I just seen a video that cancer cells have a lot of Iron in them so if this is the case, how come no one is checking for this? or maybe its BULL. Is there anyone that can shed some light on this? Thanks
thanks for the answer, and I think you might have something here because I do have a problem with my intestine but on the left side from eating seeds a while back but I have not had a relapse on this issue for years but its always picked up with any test they do. Thanks I will look into this also.
It does seem that some of the tissues surrounding the liver are quite well-enervated so if those are being affected it sure seems like the liver. I've certainly been there! I had very distinct liver area pain with pressure or certain movements for about a year after my first needle biopsy, and then it returned during a period when my liver was enlarged and putting excessive pressure on surrounding tissues. I had more severe "liver" pain for several years after having major surgery around my liver in 2005. It was quite annoying to be told it wasn't actually my liver hurting, so I do know that feeling, and I'm very sorry to be perpetrating that on you, but I feel that some aggravation is preferable to fear of cancer! In my case the pain after biopsy and after surgery seems to have come mostly from adhesions, which my body produces with great exuberance, and those can cause pain with some movements and with the presence of gas in the GI tract, which can cause stretching and pulling on the adhesions. I think even without adhesions you can get pain around the liver if gas distends a loop of bowel that passes through that area.
Does your ultrasound show enlargement of your liver? Have you had any surgery or needle biopsies in the last few years? Do you have any digestive issues that might be producing gas? That last one can sometimes cause pain without any other signs of GI problems, so its worth looking into. My husband had moderately severe pain in that region, with no other symptoms at all, and no disease that could be identified by a barrage of tests including ultrasound, CT with dye and endoscopy, until our doctor tried him out on some med for irritable bowel. He thought her diagnosis was nuts at first but it got rid of his pain within a week and after a few months he was able to quit the meds without having it come back. It seems his stress levels at the time were the main trigger. It was a huge relief, as we were both very worried it was something quite serious. Take heart Salvo, it's very likely this is much more minor than you fear!
Does your ultrasound show enlargement of your liver? Have you had any surgery or needle biopsies in the last few years? Do you have any digestive issues that might be producing gas? That last one can sometimes cause pain without any other signs of GI problems, so its worth looking into. My husband had moderately severe pain in that region, with no other symptoms at all, and no disease that could be identified by a barrage of tests including ultrasound, CT with dye and endoscopy, until our doctor tried him out on some med for irritable bowel. He thought her diagnosis was nuts at first but it got rid of his pain within a week and after a few months he was able to quit the meds without having it come back. It seems his stress levels at the time were the main trigger. It was a huge relief, as we were both very worried it was something quite serious. Take heart Salvo, it's very likely this is much more minor than you fear!
Sorry to hear this and I'll pray for you, hope you get better, because no one should have to go through this.
Do you have any spots on MRI or CAT Scan? If you don't and since you were cured of HCV then I wouldn't worry too much. It's when the spots (not necessarily malignant) and the HCV still irritating the cells is when the cancer can come. I had that, they told me it was a 10% chance per year. That 10% found me. Post transplant now and maybe or may not have been cured of the virus. It took a while maybe 5 or 8 years after the darker spots started showing before AFP took off and the cancer set in. I think you stand in much better stead on this since cured.
I've heard this before, and I tell you and my doctors before that I feel pain in my liver. My Gall bladder was taken out 7 years ago and let me describe the pain, its like you would get a muscle spasm on you leg, well its the same way on my liver. Depending on how I move,( Like sit ups) it could come so fast that it would take a good 2 or 3 min. to stop. Some times just bending to the right, like picking up something or just bending my legs to cut my toe nails I would get a pain. What I get does not equal NO nerve endings that transmit pain, but I will see him again and try to explain this one more time. Thanks
It's very rare to have "liver" pain that is actually the liver itself, as the liver is not equipped with the nerve endings that transmit pain. Tell your doctor and ask for a thorough evaluation of other nearby parts. Most pain in that region is caused by other GI issues, like gall bladder problems or sometimes things like acid reflux or irritable bowel can refer pain to that region. From what I've heard, liver cancer doesn't cause pain until it is so far progressed that your doctors would have long ago detected it with the regular screening. Good luck getting a resolution to the pain, but don't let it cause undo worry about your liver.
I thank you for the info but I'm concerned more then before because it seems like I have more pain then now then before. My liver hurts most of the time and it lets me know it.
Hi Salvo, congratulations on your SVR! I believe when monitoring AFP for HCC, they look mostly for levels that are not just a little elevated, but elevated and continuing to elevate, so one test that was higher than normal probably would just pique their interest to test again sooner. Wikipedia states "A level above 500 nanograms/milliliter of AFP in adults can be indicative of hepatocellular carcinoma, germ cell tumors, and metastatic cancers of the liver", but I think a much lower degree of elevation would would call for more frequent tests and additional types of tests. The ultrasound is quite good at picking up small tumors, but they also have access to CT scans with dye and to MRIs, so if they have extra reason for concern due to an elevating AFP they will probably add more tests. Overall I think as long as you are getting a US and an AFP at least every six months odds are very good that any HCV would be discovered early. I'm in the same boat as you and have decided to put the worries away, with the knowledge that I'll certainly have them all pop right back out if any tests ever do show worrying indications.
I would still like to know whats normal tests #'s and abnormal tests #'s for the AFP. Trying to look back to see what is shown.
No the VA were NOT involved, they shy away from anything like this. They told me they didn't have any new medicine except the ones I tried for three or four other times.Now I'm living in Georgia and cant even get an appointment but I still get calls from the VA in Florida to keep appointments even after I told them I moved. Thats how up to par they are!
Congratulations, I remember you from way back when I first started coming to this site. You had a VA question. I'm glad you were able to convince those jerks to treat you.
My hubby has Cirrhosis, due to Hep C. His hepatologist checks him about every 3 - 6 months. Right now every 6 months. She does labwork, ultrasound, and an office visit. I think this is just routine screening for liver cancer for anyone with Cirrhosis. Of course in my hubby's case, she is also monitoring his liver function since he hasn't been able to cure his Hep C as yet.
Advocate1955
Advocate1955
can-do answered most of your questions. Here is my take on HCC (liver cancer).
Since you had cirrhosis of the liver when you cured your hepatitis C you still have a higher than normal risk of developing liver cancer. It is appropriate to be monitored for HCC so if it appears it can be caught early when it is still treatable.
Since there are no symptoms in the early stages of many cancers including liver cancer, it is easy to see how people can end up with stage 4 end-stage cancer. (HCC has multiple factors that can cause it to be fatal so it doesn't use a 0-4 staging system). By the time someone feels symptoms from liver cancer it is usually too late. So unless a doctor is testing for a particular cancer it is easy to miss. That is why surveillance is appropriate for all cirrhotics whose liver disease was caused by the hepatitis C virus..
I wouldn't worry about it too much as worrying will not change anything and just create anxiety that you don't need. Just continue your HCC surveillance and be happy you are hep C free and live your life.
Hector
Since you had cirrhosis of the liver when you cured your hepatitis C you still have a higher than normal risk of developing liver cancer. It is appropriate to be monitored for HCC so if it appears it can be caught early when it is still treatable.
Since there are no symptoms in the early stages of many cancers including liver cancer, it is easy to see how people can end up with stage 4 end-stage cancer. (HCC has multiple factors that can cause it to be fatal so it doesn't use a 0-4 staging system). By the time someone feels symptoms from liver cancer it is usually too late. So unless a doctor is testing for a particular cancer it is easy to miss. That is why surveillance is appropriate for all cirrhotics whose liver disease was caused by the hepatitis C virus..
I wouldn't worry about it too much as worrying will not change anything and just create anxiety that you don't need. Just continue your HCC surveillance and be happy you are hep C free and live your life.
Hector
For those of us that has cirrhosis were to have and Ultrasound every 6 months and blood tests that check our AFP levels. Any early signs that show up then require further testing.
AFP test
A protein called AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) is considered a tumor marker for liver cancer. In adults, high blood levels can be a sign of certain types of cancer, including liver cancer.
Blood tests for AFP may be used to look for early tumors in people at high risk for liver cancer. This test isn’t perfect, though. Some cancers do not make much of this protein. Also, some liver diseases that are not cancer can also raise AFP levels. For these reasons, AFP blood tests are not advised for everyone.
Ultrasound
An ultrasound test uses sound waves to make pictures of organs inside the body. For a liver ultrasound, you lie on a table while a wand is moved around on the skin over the right side of the belly. Any masses (tumors) seen in the liver can then be tested for cancer if needed.
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For further reading check this link out. Best to you.
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/livercancer/overviewguide/liver-cancer-overview-diagnosed
AFP test
A protein called AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) is considered a tumor marker for liver cancer. In adults, high blood levels can be a sign of certain types of cancer, including liver cancer.
Blood tests for AFP may be used to look for early tumors in people at high risk for liver cancer. This test isn’t perfect, though. Some cancers do not make much of this protein. Also, some liver diseases that are not cancer can also raise AFP levels. For these reasons, AFP blood tests are not advised for everyone.
Ultrasound
An ultrasound test uses sound waves to make pictures of organs inside the body. For a liver ultrasound, you lie on a table while a wand is moved around on the skin over the right side of the belly. Any masses (tumors) seen in the liver can then be tested for cancer if needed.
-------------------------------------
For further reading check this link out. Best to you.
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/livercancer/overviewguide/liver-cancer-overview-diagnosed
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