Liver resection

[Kaavra18]

I have a large cyst and need a liver resection can anyone tell me their experience with this

[Bolly]

I had a resection for a tumour. It was done via keyhole surgery and i was discharged after 4 days.

[Barnetaccounts]

I had a resection for HCC about 4 years ago, nett result was they told me that the cancer was going to return and almost 12 months to the day it was confirmed as having returned. I had various complications and spent a week in ICU and was eventually discharged after 2 weeks. Mine certainly wasn’t done by keyhole surgery, I had a large inverted L incision made. This went on to cause massive issues for me when I eventually got called in for transplantation, as the new incision was being made directly on the old scar, this haemorrhaged almost immediately and the transplant was aborted whilst they fought to get me up to ICU still alive. They transfused me with 25 pints of blood and my wife and grown up kids were told I had about 12 hours to live. That was 14 months ago so it looks like their watches have all stopped. I am no longer an option for a transplant as they say the same thing would happen again. None of this is designed to illicit fear, but if transplantation is something for the future, it is something for you to discuss if keyhole surgery is not an option.

Ray

[grahamrc in reply to Barnetaccounts]

i Had a resection with keyhole surgery and was back home after 3 days. there were no complications at the time and i have had 3 and 1/2 years cancer free till last week when i have been informed it has returned. I had little pain just mild discomfort.

[Barnetaccounts in reply to grahamrc]

When I was informed the cancer had returned, I took a very pragmatic view of things and never had any doubt that it would be sorted. How wrong can you be. I was accepted onto the transplant list, waited 18 months for the right organ as they had already identified that my original resection scar was going to present a problem. Got down to theatre and I am told I haemorrhaged pretty quickly and very badly. It took 25 pints of blood to get me up to ICU still alive. My wife was told the amount of blood I needed would actually kill me as my liver would not be able to cope. I remained in a coma for 12 days, and when I regained consciousness I was told that the transplant was aborted and I was removed from the list immediately. I was given a maximum of 1-2 years of life before my liver finally called it a day. I undergo regular embolisations to manage any tumour growth and 14 months later have never been healthier. I haven’t lost any weight, but have decided to live life to the best of my ability. I have visited Russia, am going on a cruise from Singapore to Abu Dhabi in a few weeks, and life is definitely good today.

I write a sporadic blog about my cancer journey, which allows me to keep things in “the day” it can be found at 1liver1life.wordpress.com and is written when something has changed or happened.

Hope things work out for you without the drama my family endured.

Ray