Hi. What does this mean - likely cancer?
If not, what else could it be and what treatment would be used.
We got told this today by letter, I don't think that is how you should find out such information.
My husband is 60 with NASH liver disease, oesophageal varices and subclinical hepatic encephalopathy. He also has type 2 diabetes.
Any information gratefully received.
Hello there, apparently no one else is about at the moment. I have no experience of H.C.C myself but others on this site do and can advise you better. Meanwhile, you can check out the London Liver Centre, Bridge Rd. Just type in to search, H.C.C. is under the section liver tumours. So sorry about the letter, I,ve had that happen to me and it,s terrible. Best wishes. anne.
It is not at all a good way to find out a possible diagnosis of liver cancer and I would suggest you make immediate contact with your husband's consultant to ask for a consultation and to explore possible next steps. I assume that he is already being treated and with that apparent diagnosis, there are some next steps, up to and including recommendation for a transplant. I think it would be reasonable in the circumstances to ask for a very early appointment. There may be some merit in getting your GP on side.
Thanks Dave, we have spoken before - although some time ago.
Unfortunately had disagreement with some of the treatment my husband has had.
Can you private message on this site?
Thanks for your information. We are in Blackpool, like yourself.
Best wishes, Christine
My god
So bad to send this in a letter.
It does say suggestive which would mean follow up tests.
HCC is hepatocellular carcinoma which does mean yes to your question I am afraid.
My husband had many of these in his liver but werent found until they removed it at transplant.if they had found them he would not have had a transplant as he was outside the criteria for receiving one. Lucky break because he would have been a gonner well before now.
You need to contact the hospital urgently to see what follow up they are arranging and consider making a complaint.
Which hospital is this.
Good luck
Very sorry to read about your husband's diagnosis and hope everything goes well for him.
Strange way of being informed. When I was informed, my consultant with a specialist nurse took me in their office and explained everything to me. It was obviously a shock but the way they handled the situation and gave me support and explained alternative treatment it made me feel that it wasn't the end of the world.
I was diagnosed with HCC September 2015 after various scans Ultra-sound, MRI and CT scans including blood tests. They found two tumors in my liver 3 cm.
If you are diagnosed at a late stage and the tumors are over 5 cm it unlikely you will fit the criteria for transplant. I was informed by my local liver consultant that I fitted the criteria for liver transplant so referred to University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust for assessment.
Meantime I was treated at Aintree Hospital, Liverpool with Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for liver cancer to shrink the tumors to prepare for transplant. In Febuary 2015 I was placed on the transplant waiting list and had the transplant after only waiting 7 days. The reason I was so quick was because of my blood type, which is AB POS. It is a rare group which means I can have an organ from any blood group donor.
I was discharged 7 days after the transplant, I was re-admitted twice for a couple of days. Once for suffering from the CMV virus and low white blood cells.
You will have a specialist nurse, and co-ordinators who will help you throughout your husbands treatment. The staff are all specialists in this field and are fantastic, so there is no need to worry. They will give you all the information and help you need.
After 7 months post transplant I feeling fantastic. Hope it goes the same for your hubby. Good luck.
Some information and links: cancer.ca/en/cancer-informa...
healthunlocked.com/britishl....
Thank you for the reply Dave, much appreciated. As far as we know my husband's (Mike) results are to be discussed at the next Radiology meeting. No idea when that will be.
So glad for you that after transplant you are now feeling much better.
Best wishes, Christine
My husband has been told he has hcc but because of cirrhosis in his liver they are going to monitor it even though there is no cirrhosis around the tumour as it is smaller than 11mm and is slow growing. it is a shock but you need to speak to your hepatoligist my husband us also 60 and has other conditions and becaus of this he cant be considered for transplant. Good luck karen xx
Thanks Karen, sorry to hear of your husband having hcc too, wish him all the best. I don't know if my husband would be suitable for a transplant. Dr was thinking of referring him to Leeds after the last set of tests (gastroscopy and mri) depending on the results. The results have been 2 oesophageal varices and this suggestion of a hcc.
Best wishes to you both, Christine x
They told us that the tumour had been there for a while and hadnt grown which was why they knew was slow growing. We are in liverpool so under the royal liverpool hospital which has a very good liver unit . Like you i am worried but he also has ascites so if they can control it then they said they will ablate tumour. hope you get a positive outcome karen x
I had an MRI which showed a mass suggestive of HCC. MRI's can differentiate between tumours and cysts etc. HCC is very aggressive and outcomes are poor, so for me they decided to assume it was cancer and remove it. Post surgical biopsy confirmed it was cancerous.
My guess is they would be unlikely to biopsy first, in order to confirm diagnosis with actual tissue, as sticking a needle into a tumour will risk seeding cells around the body.
My guess is your husband will be given treatment options, depending on where the HCC is, how big, what the underlying background disease is that caused it, the overall health of his liver and his overall health.
Hi Vegetarian1,
It would be advisable to contact your husbands specialist for clarification regarding this letter as soon as possible.
In the meantime, if you would like to discuss any worries you may have please do feel free to call the British Liver trust helpline on 0800 652 7330.
Best Wishes,
Rebecca
Thank you Rebecca, I am considering this.
Christine.
It is a protocol to discuss .
Thank you. I don't like the idea of sending such letters out, it is cruel.
Bestwishes, Christine
They have a vital role in our society and such protocol is necessary as they can't risk being to personally involved in there patients life or they would burn out emotionally, Sound cruel , but it actually is part of their training. There is a saying about Physicians : Black Art , White Coats.
Thank you for all the research you have done. I am going to try and get more information from the hospital as to when my husband will be seen. Letter said his results will be discussed at next Radiology meeting, I don't know when that is likely to happen.
My husband's diagnosis is non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. NASH cirrhosis.
Many thanks, Christine
Steatohepatitis is indicative of too much fat in the diet. too much fat can be flushed out by sipping on lemon and water. the problem with fat is that it pushes the liver cells together to tightly casing the many nuclei to press together. the liver cell needs multiple nucleus to regenerate. If too many liver cells die (necrosis) the liver becomes scarred resulting in restricted blood flow, this is why the spleen is large. the blood is backing up and the platelets can not get out causing clotting issues and increased blood pressure to the veins in the stomach, intestines and stomach, The increased pressure causes the veins to push out to the surfaces lining the esophagus (food tube) intestines (feces tube) and the stomach (were food is digested). When the varices rupture , they bleed , and because the platelets cannot get out of the spleen as explain above the blood cannot clot and unless these veins are banded or diverted through bi-pass surgery the risk of bleeds becomes a major concern, The cause, Liver damage must be addressed initially in order the reduce the pressure caused by the scarring damage around the portal vein (the blood vessel that carries oxygen to the liver) once the scarring is severe the vein becomes constricted and reduces in diameter causing the hypertension , which restricts the blood flow through the liver and it backs up.
Sorry for going on so long. I just like to explain myself clearly, it is quite technical and only your Doctor should be consulted for the truth as they have a much wider understanding of medicine than I. Stay calm , think positive. Your husband is lucky to have your support.
KingFisher1
Thanks again, we think the liver damage started many, many years ago. Probably early 80's. Husband had to have a company medical for a job, this was the first time we heard the words "fatty liver." We had no idea what that meant and this dr just told my husband never drink (he doesn't). We were not advised to get regular check-ups from a GP, or to do anything else. We were recently married then, young and my husband was slim. Not long after this I had twins, and going out anywhere wasn't on the cards. We've never been drinkers either of us. I think my husband had a pre-disposition to this disease, that was already there waiting to start.
Don't think medical information on fatty liver was as advanced in the 80's as now, so we didn't have any guidance.
Regards, Christine
Hi Kingfisher I am not interfering but the portal vein does not carry oxygen to the liver that is done by the hepatic artery, I hope your not angry with me clarifying this. Ian
all clarifications welcome by all im sure ,,thanks for letting ME know this Sykesy01.
No problem Matt
not at all I always get the veins and arteries mixed . Anger is a vice I cannot afford.
Vegetarian1,
In the UK it is not routine 'protocol' to receive a diagnosis without seeing a consultant first. You are totally within your rights to pursue this and contact the Patient Advisary Liason Service at your hospital for advice.
With regards to the above posts, The British Liver Trust advises against the use of liver detox and flushes as they have not been clinically proven to be of benefit, and some may be dangerous for people with liver disease. Fat cannot be simply ‘flushed out’ of the liver.
With regards to the dietary comments here, there are some special considerations that people with liver disease may need to make in their diet to stay nutritionally well and to help to manage their condition. Some of these are specific to certain liver diseases, others relate to how advanced the liver disease is.
We would always recommend obtaining specialist dietary advice from your liver specialist in the first instance.
Best Wishes,
Rebecca
Thank you Rebecca. Happy to say I am well aware of cirrhosis meaning the liver is beyond repairing itself. In 31/2 years of cirrhosis we have never been given any dietary information whatsoever from the hospital. In fact we only found out last month from gastro dr that my husband should only be taking up to 4 paracetamol in 24hrs (if needed). He had been taking the normal dose of 2 tablets.
Regards, Christine
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