I've always noticed on my ultrasound results it says "no ascites, no varices, no decompensation. A well-developed cirrhosis is not seen." I had to ask my doctor what "ascites" meant. My guess is I have developed ascites or something.
What I meant by the treatment focus has changed as of day before yesterday is that I have always had annual ultrasounds and everything was fine. It was only as of day before yesterday my doctor changed his approach from trying to cure to keeping me healthy enough to undergo treatment when the new drugs become available. His ultrasound order reads in part, "Questions to be answered: HCC surveillance." My best to you, Hector. Thanks for your help.
Thank you for your prompt responses! My daughter had attended the appointment with me and said the guru doc told me they were treating me AS IF I had advanced cirrhosis, not that I HAVE advanced cirrhosis, but I heard him say that my last biopsy was in 2005 and showed Stage 3/4 bridging fibrosis and scarring, no cirrhosis, and so I must have cirrhosis by now, even early-stage. My daughter said guru doc had told me he has patients who have had cirrhosis for 20 years, as it only progresses at a rate of 2%-3% per year, but I told her the ultrasound order said "HCC Screening", Hepatocellular Carcinoma/Liver Cancer. How big do these things get? Can I still go for my walk/runs? About 4 miles 3-4 times per week. I will let you know when I get the results of my ultrasound. I'm with you, slideman, in wanting to get it fixed before it gets bigger or entraps intestine in with it, etc. Goddamnit, I wish the VX-950 had been what they said it would be! And now I can't take it anyway because my last treatment failure was on Infergen, and after 9 weeks I developed retinal hemorrhaging. But overall I feel really good. That's the best indicator, isn't it?
Hi. Welcome Chris.
Since you are having surveillance for liver cancer every 6 months I assume you have stage 4 cirrhosis.
Ever have ascites? Fluid build up in the abdomen. Where the abdomen becomes tight and distended? This is one of the complications of advanced cirrhosis sometimes called decompensated cirrhosis or End-Stage Liver Disease (ESLD).
Ascites related hernias, are common in patients with ascites, they are caused by higher than normal pressure in the abdomen (fluid) that can cause both umbilical and groin hernias.
I have ESLD and liver cancer. When I first decompensated after having anesthesia for an unrelated condition I had one very bad case of ascites where my abdomen expanded so far I found it hard to breath or eat as most of the space in my abdomen was filled with fluid. The episode created a hernia and deformed my belly button. As I have ESLD surgery to repair it is really the least of my problems. And any elective surgery are not recommended as the risks of infection, anesthesia and other complication are far worse than a harmless hernia. Unless there is severe pain caused by the intestines getting twisted or caught in the opening, surgery for cirrhotics is not recommended.
Let us know what the ultrasound results are.
Hector
I had a hernia in the same place, and have 3 or 4 friends with the same thing. I had mine repaired and a biopsy done at the same time. However of all the people I know with this condition I am the only one with hep. In fact as I recall I had the hernia fixed twice, the first time I had not been diagnosed with hep yet. Its not all that uncommon to have this type of hernia. You do need to have it fixed before it causes other trouble. From what I know of these ruptures, its not related to hep. I was born with it, and just got licky to have done something (work construction) and made it worse.
Dont have any experience with that but Im sure some more smarties will jump and and give you the low down. Sounds like your on the right tract. Sorry about your treatment failures. Praying for the researchers to get a cure for you soon!