Is there anyone on here experiencing cirrhosis and HCC? My dad has recently been diagnosed.

[choc_2014]

The HCC is small and locally treatable but he cant have treatment until his liver function improves. We are frightened of the cancer spreading or growing. He stopped drinking alcohol 7 weeks ago. Any advice gratefully received.

[Hidden]

Sorry to hear about your Dad. The good news is that his cancer has been spotted early and he will now get regular monitoring. The challenge will be to support his not drinking and then getting into some kind of treatment regime, either PACE (directed chemotherapy) or surgery. You don't mention symptoms of cirrhosis and you need to be alert to what can arise so a good relationship with the liver specialists and his GP should be encouraged. Hope all goes well. Mike

[choc_2014 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Mike, its pretty severe, he was admitted with ascites which GP failed to diagnose for 4 weeks, he had 18 litres of fluid drained. He has lost weight and some confusion in the beginning but no other end stage symptoms.

[carmik]

My husband had cirrhosis due to Alpha 1 Antitrypsin deficiency. He had a transplant and on removal of his liver it was discovered he had over 10 HCC tumours.

So far been OK as far as Cancer is concerned two years later. Does have other liver related issues though.

[ancientadolescent]

Your father is doing correctly by stopping taking alcohol. If he eventually needs a transplant he will stand no chance of receiving one if he continued dinking. I wish you the very best of good fortune.

[choc_2014]

Thanks guys its good to know there is a bit of hope. He seems resigned to not drinking, he has been told 1 drink will kill him.

[Bolly]

Hi choc. I have early stage cirrhosis and was diagnosed with a small HCC 4 years ago. My cirrhosis wasn't caused by alcohol though so I was 'lucky' to be offered the chance of surgery which removed the tumour along with part of my liver. This type of treatment gives the best survival rate, and as you see i am a year off the 50% who survive 5 years. My guess is your father may be offered some sort of chemo treatment, but the doc is right, he must not drink, ever. If his cirrhosis has reached the ascites stage i think surgery is very unlikely, the liver without the cancer has to be relatively health to survive a resection and re grow. Chemo may well extend his life, so here's wishing you and him good luck.

[choc_2014]

Thanks Bolly, good to hear your story and best of luck to you for the future