Liver cancer stage 4

Hi Pam you can get more info from the website, but my understanding is yes stag 4 is terminal, my dad has stage 4 lung cancer it has now spread every where, dad's prognosis is 2 MTHS.  I hope you find the answers to your questions, all the best xx

Sorry to hear about your dad’s prognosis. 
Is he getting any treatments? 

We have spoken to the doctor and the liver cancer is secondary, they are yet to find the primary cancer. He’s booked in for a colonoscopy tomorrow. 
we haven’t gotten a prognosis yet. 

Hi Ppam. We were told on Monday just gone that my husband has liver secondaries. They did a gastroscopy - all clear. They did blood markers - nothing of concern. Now they are putting us under "Cancer of unknown primary" MDT. They won't listen to our concerns or questions. My husband has been on liver toxic epilepsy medication for 25+ years. They hadn't even spoken to his neurologist about it. They won't show us blood results or scans. I feel like we're sinking and they won't throw us a rope. I'm trying everything I can (I work in the hospital, just the lowest of the low skivvy admin). We are lost. It's out of the blue. 

I'm so sorry to hear that this is happening to you, especially now when support is most needed.

I understand how you're feeling, we feel the same, stuck. The diagnosis wasn't confirmed apparently. It was just the doctor giving us the 'worst case scenario'. We haven't had a confirmed diagnosis yet. Did a colonoscopy - all clear. Unsure what to do next. We're trying to get him referred to a different hospital. They kept him there all week and only did 2 tests, the rest of the days he sat there and watch tv. The toilet in the ward didn't even have a seat! Imagine that. Waiting for the professionals to tell us what's next..

I do sincerely hope that you both find the help you need. Sometimes a little compassion goes a long way in times like this. Is there an option to get a 2nd opinion elsewhere?

Thanks Ppam. I feel like my world is turned upside down. Nothing is confirmed for my hubby either, apart from a surgeon who took a look at it (not a liver surgeon) and told me - over the telephone - that it was metastatic cancer. The GP thought it could be one of a number of things. They had liver MDT and decided to move it to 'unknown origin' MDT. Yet to have a biopsy, now battling to get that. It's an uphill battle and I'm trying not to crack up.

How are you getting on? Any news for your family member? Wishing you all the luck for your family xxx

How are you coping with this and have you tried to consult with private hospitals or got any second opinion?

Sorry you are having such a bad time.

Stage 4 is terminal. Depending on other health factors, some treatments can extend life, but they are tough to take for most. 

We all feel that life is unfair and we should have more time. That was the hardest thing for me to accept is that now I can only hope for the medicines to keep me alive longer.

We've had more testing at another hospital and although they couldn't find the underlying cause of this, not once have they mentioned that it is stage 4 cancer. I think it's a case of a misdiagnosis at the first hospital, scare tactics by the doctor. Latest results show a vast improvement in his health, again no mention of cancer.

Oh no, so sorry to hear that.

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and hope that you find all the support you need.

Hi Ppam, 

We went private for diagnosis and then moved counties in the end and had treatment at 2 amazing Lancashire trusts (my home county). It was cholangiocarcinoma. Unfortunately, it was too late for my hubby, he passed 4 months ago. My world is shattered.

Have the doctors/surgeons looked for cholangiocarcinoma? It's incredibly hard to spot, mostly symptom less and it's usually detected/found by pure chance, like with my hubby who (thankfully) was never in pain and 'with it' right up until the day before he passed. Clinicians are really bad at looking for it as it's so rare. I hope to goodness it isn't cancer at all, but thought I'd see if they'd checked for it.

Love and strength to you all xxx