please be honest with me

[thegoodson]

If after a two year remission cancer cmes back and within just  two months has grown all over the liver, is my mom dying? she starts doxil chemo thursday but everyone says once cancer is in the liver............please-we are as desperate for the truth as we are for hope

[jr1971]

Hi there

In answer to the liver question - there are 2 reasons for having a lesion on the Liver - 1. It has spread via cells breaking off from another lesion and settling on the liver capsule. 2. The cells spread via the blood and settle inside the liver. The 2 scenarios indicate different prognosis.

Any invasion of an organ by a tumour may result in that organ not functioning properly and subsequently failing. This is how people tend to die from cancer. In the first scenario, the cells are on the outside of the liver capsule and may therefore not be affecting the functions of the liver. These external lesions can grow through the liver capsule and begin to affect the liver function, but this takes longer.  In the second, the tumour will, without treatment, affect liver function. Te second also tells another story - that the cancer can be spread in the body via the blood. In this situation there is a higher chance of more distant mets.

The approach and treatment will depend on whether there are other lesions other than the Liver. If not then they may do surgery to strip away the tumour, followed by chemo. If there are other lesions and deposits elsewhere they may go with Chemo only.

Whatever happens, she had a good response to chemo last time, so you can reasonably expect a good response again whatever the location of the tumours.

I know some of this information may sound grim, but each person reacts and respond differently. Doctors are vague, mainly to avoid distress and because there are so many uncertainties.

Jon

[marie3B]

The fact that she had a long remission is a good sign she may get another good response to chemo.  That is sure my wish for her.  I have a recurrence involving tumors all over my liver too.  I am about to finish chemo again.  I did not ever have a full remission since my cancer is chemo resistant.  Your mom may do well again.  Take care. Marie

[thegoodson]

she was diagnosed with stage 3c. after 42 chemo treatments seh went into remission for two years, and now it came back. A lot of it i guess, and it came back fast. Docs are so vague and indifferent, I wish someone would just tell us the truth. I pray that she will respond to the doxil

[Jane39]

I am sorry your mom is suffering a re-occurrence.  And a two year remission is great.  What stage was your mom originally diagnosed with?  No one knows what the future holds for them, but please don't ever give up hope.  Everyone reacts differently to their treatment, there are alot of success stories and as you see there is alot of heartbreak as well.  You have to remain positive and strong for both your self and most of all your mom!!  Please keep in touch.