HCC/ liver cancer

[Mare-M]

Hi

Just wondering if anyone has or has had HCC.

If so what imaging test was the most accurate? CT/MRI/PET ?

Thank you

[carmik]

Hi

Unfortunately although my hubby had a liver full of HCC it was never picked up on any scans or blood tests. Was only found at transplant which was a blessing as he was far too far gone to have been given a transplant had it shown before. By the time they found it all he was minus a liver so had to carry on..

[Millie09 in reply to carmik]

Omg, how did they not pick it up ?.. bit of a worry really there. On the plus side for your hubby that was brilliant he had his transplant. Hope he's doing well

[Mare-M in reply to carmik]

Hi Carmik,

Thank you for your reply. So your husband is ok now post transplant ? How long has it been and has the cancer returned?

Thank you

[carmik in reply to Mare-M]

Its 6 and half years and no recurrence.

[Mare-M in reply to carmik]

That’s wonderful news. So there is hope 🙏

Continued health to your husband 🙂

[dougalgromit in reply to carmik]

Hi sorry to bother you but can you explain what is Hcc please x

[Mare-M in reply to dougalgromit]

Hi,

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignancy of the liver and occurs predominantly in patients with underlying chronic liver disease and cirrhosis..

[Remainer]

Hi, my husband has had two separate HCC's. For him it has been ct scans that have picked up on them. Guess it can be different for each individual like the reply from carmik.

[Mare-M in reply to Remainer]

Hi remainer,

Thank you for your reply.

Do you know the size of the lesions ? Does this k and your husband is not eligible for a transplant ?

What treatment have they offered?

Thank you

[Remainer in reply to Mare-M]

Hi Mare-M, the first tumour was 3cm and treated with radiofrequency ablation. The second one was around 1-2cm, was in a difficult area to get to. Treated in two ways, firstly chemoembolisation and a dye injected to show the tumour more clearly. Then a few weeks later treated with microwave ablation.

Not had a serious talk as yet about assessment/listing for transplant.

Christine xx

[Mare-M in reply to Remainer]

It was lucky they found the lesions when they were small & could do something about it. So the timbers completely gone now ?

[Remainer in reply to Mare-M]

Hi, the first tumour has gone, and hopefully the microwave ablation has sorted out this second tumour.

No confirmation of that, needing another ct scan in a few weeks to see how well the ablation has worked. Then regular checks for a while to keep watch.

Take care,

Chrustine xx

[Mare-M in reply to Remainer]

That’s great news. Good luck and continued good health x

[Danisleigh]

My sons wasn’t confirmed until his biopsy but the MRI did flag it as suspicious.

[Mare-M in reply to Danisleigh]

Hi Dani,

I think we’ve chatted before ?Your son has had a transplant ?

[Danisleigh in reply to Mare-M]

Yes, he was transplanted in February. His tumour was too large to resect and just within the limits to be able to have a transplant so he was very lucky.

[Mare-M in reply to Danisleigh]

So he had only 1 tumour and it was under 6cm?

[Danisleigh in reply to Mare-M]

the lesion itself was 7cms but only a small portion of it had become cancerous.

[Mare-M in reply to Danisleigh]

Oh wow I didn’t even know that it can be only partly cancerous. May I ask what test identified that it was only a small part cancerous ?

[Danisleigh in reply to Mare-M]

They were monitoring the lesion for a couple of years and it was firstly diagnosed as a regenerative nodule. On a follow up scan they noticed it had changed slightly so he had another MRI which noticed a small area had changed density and looked more suspicious. He had a target biopsy where they took a sample of the suspect area and a sample of the other area and they confirmed 95% what they suspected. It was confirmed 100% once they removed the liver.

[Mare-M in reply to Danisleigh]

Oh dear. Well I’m glad everything worked out. Continued health 🙂

[Mama41]

I was diagnosed with liver cancer almost 10 years ago. I've been told that MRI is the most accurate scan to pick up tumours in the liver.

[Millie09 in reply to Mama41]

How are you keeping now.. .xx

[Mama41 in reply to Millie09]

I'm fine...have had a few reoccurances but all things considered am very fit and healthy these days 😊

[Millie09 in reply to Mama41]

Brilliant news!!! .

[Mare-M in reply to Mama41]

Hi Mama.

Thank you for your reply.

Was this liver cancer due to cirrhosis?

Did you have a transplant ?

Treatment ?

Are you well now?

Thank you

[Mama41 in reply to Mare-M]

Hi..no wasn't due to cirrhosis. No transplant just lots of surgeries and one ablation.

Am very well now and am monitored by MRI every 6 months to check for reoccurance 😊

[Mare-M in reply to Mama41]

Glad to hear. Continued health to you 🙂

[GrannyDoll61]

My husband had 3 tumours 3cm each. Was given t.a.c.e.treatment to keep them at bay and then a liver transplant .Not listed for 11 months then only waited 3 days

[Mare-M in reply to GrannyDoll61]

Thank you for your reply.

So the tace treatment was helpful?

That’s very fortunate that he had the transplant. How long ago was it & has there been a reoccurrence of lesions?

[Angelann69]

It seems that the cancers are not that easy to detect. I'm glad you all got transplants and a better shot at life when they did find out. I worry about this with my pancreas. I just know I have some sort of cancer there. Since it's actully gone, just filled up with fat, it would be difficult to see but it sure feels that way. You all are really giving me hope. I love this board and all of you.

[grahamrc]

i have had ct scans that picked up suspicious lesions than had to go for further mri scans for better imaging. So mri scans is the answer i think. I have 2 hcc about 3 cm each and have been called in as they have found another and significant changes in the scans from the 17th march and the 1 done on the 28th april. The wont tell me over the phone what the significant changes are and have just left me to worry. they are trying to get me an appointment for wednesday

[Mare-M in reply to grahamrc]

Thanks Graham.

It’s so stressful, I’m sorry to hear this.

My mum is having a follow up cat scan on Wed. God willing her lesion has not grown and there aren’t any more.

Wishing you luck as well. I hope it’s notjing too bad 🙏

[mickmm]

Hi I was diognosed with lesions on my liver and after the biopsy it was determined that ithe was a carcanoid tumor but they could not offer any treatment at all owing to other health problems they told me if I had chemo it could cause sepsis no operating as my livr is in my chest cavity owing to only 1 lung no embolism becacause itmay make my liver swell up and push on my heart causing an attack so I am left with nothing but hope and to make the best of the time I have left mickmm

[Mare-M in reply to mickmm]

I’m really very sorry to hear this. Can I ask how many lesions & what size ?

So is transplant not an option for you ?

Did they give you an indication of time frame for survial?

[Millie09 in reply to mickmm]

Oh im sorry to hear this.. i hope and pray things will keep sable.

[GrannyDoll61]

Im not absolutely sure but its either 4 or 5 and no bigger than 4 cm each. The t.a.c.e treatment shrunk them right down and none of them went out of the liver as far as we know.The transplant was only 9 weeks ago and so far so good.the tace treatment left keith with flu like symptoms for around 2 weeks but well worth it x

[Mare-M in reply to GrannyDoll61]

Thank you GrannyDoll.

All the best 😊

[1football]

Hi

I have 3 tumours the first was picked up on MRI and I had abilation treatment which worked for 10 months then tumour returned with another tumour in another area and was listed for transplant that was 17 months ago since then another tumour has appeared I’ve had 4 lots of embolisation which have kept them within criteria for transplant I’ve had 1 call which wasn’t to be and awaiting my next

Hope this helps and wishing you the very best on your journey

Huw

[Mare-M in reply to 1football]

Hi Huw,

Thank you for your reply. Can I ask what size? Also was your treatment RAF or TACE?

Also a very difficult and invasive question to ask I’m sorry and I understand if you don’t want to answer but did they give you an idea of life expectancy?

Thank you very much

Marianne

[1football in reply to Mare-M]

Hi marianne

I’ve had both RAF (abilation) and 4 of TACE(embolisation) as regards life expectancy what we need to realise is that being lucky enough to be listed they are trying to cure you of whatever life threatening condition you have,of course it’s a massive operation which carries risks but all going well there’s no reason why we can’t live a normal life.

My tumours at the moment are one at 3cm and 2 at around 1.5cm the TACE is at the moment them under control but TACE is not a cure it only slows down the speed of growth as the liver is remarkable as when they block a supply of blood & oxygen to the tumour eventually the liver will create another path around the blocked one bit like a road diversion ( bit of humour) has possible transplant been mentioned to you?

Huw

[Mare-M in reply to 1football]

Follow up Cat scan is being done tomorrow to see whether the main lesion has grown, it’s currently 5 cm and or if there are multiple lesions. We were on the path to transplant list but since this has come up they have said that may not be an option any more if there are multiple lesions or main lesion is over 6 cm..

Was your HCC due to cirhossis?

Also do you feel RFA or tace is the better option ? Most effective and less side-effects/painful ?

[1football]

Hi

Good luck with your Cat scan tomorrow , but surprised they not doing MRI as that’s the only scan I have these days every 3 months. Yes I have non alcoholic cirrhosis it’s a result of living unknown to me with hepatitis C for over 30 years as regards treatment your consultants are the only ones who can determine what’s best but neither are to painful you may suffer discomfort which a standard painkiller will deal with and feel tired and lethargic for a week or so but we are all different

Huw

[Mare-M in reply to 1football]

The first test that picked up the tumour was a Catscan so they want to compare image to image I think. But I will push for an MRI after the catcan I think.

On another note can I ask if you suffer from ascites? If yes have you found anything that helps?

[Dlam]

Hi

My HCC was found when I happened to be in hospital Nov last year for a kidney infection being treated with IV antibiotics. After about 5 days I got excruciating abdo pain & after an emergency scan to look for what they believed to be a kidney stone found a huge tumour on my liver that had bled into itself causing it to be the size of a pear pressing into my diaphragm. I went for emergency surgery to cut the blood supply to the tumour and once stable enough I had an open liver resection where they actually found 2 cancerous tumours.(The 2nd one never showed on scan as the one that bled hid it) The resection went ahead late Dec 2017. Recovery was slow with a few minor setbacks but got there only recentley now to find my last blood test a couple of weeks ago show my tumour markers to be raised.Booked in for emergency CT scan tomorrow morning followed up straight after with a meeting with my liver surgeon.Nervous to say the least at what the future holds!

[Mare-M in reply to Dlam]

Hi Dlam. Thank you for sharing. I’m so sorry to hear this. Good luck with the scan tomorrow and I hope there is no return of cancer. Can I ask you whether your tumour was due to cirrhosis ?

[Dlam]

Hi Mare-M

They believe it was due to autto immune hepatitis......I have lupus.My liver just falls short of cirrhosis tho swollen & inflammed....so I was informed back in Jan this year.

What about you?

[Mare-M in reply to Dlam]

NAFLD ..Also auto immune although it was never 100% confirmed 😕

[Mare-M in reply to Mare-M]

How did you go with you scan ?

[Dlam]

Spent a long arse gutting day at the hospital as CT scan did confirm another cancerous tumour. Booked for surgery to go ahead on 26th of this month. They think the only solution is a transplant but because I bled into my tummy back in Nov from one of the tumours on the edge of my liver they have to wait at least a full year to confirm no spread to other areas in my abdo/chest/pelvis before I'm suitable & meet the criteria to go on the transplant list.