Liver Mets radio frequency or microwave ablation

FormerMember over 5 years ago

6 replies
12 subscribers
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my husband was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer with liver Mets last August 2018. Has been on 5FU chemo since September (every other week). Added Erbitux in January. He has multiple, many liver lesions. Scan in March showed some slightly increased, some slightly decreased and some remained same - so oncologist said overall we”ll call it same (stable). Said he would like to see more shrinkage but happy that the cancer hasn’t spread. Dr said he felt my husband has not had enough time on Erbitux at that point so would remain on the same regimen. CEA and liver enzymes were progressively going down. Now since April the CEA has gone from 99 to 168. Pretty significant increase. Had a scan June 10 and scan shows largest lesion has increased about 1 cm, which is now about 12 cm by 14 cm, and several others have increased, some stayed the same but no shrinkage. The radiologist who did the scan suggested to the oncologist that he thinks my husband could be a candidate for radio frequency or microwave ablation - focusing just on the largest lesion. My husband was very down after seeing the scan report, which I was able to pull and read before we saw the Dr. but now he feels a little sense of hope with the possible ablation. Whatever can be done to buy more time. Has anyone else had similar experience? They are not talking about ablation for all lesions because there are just too many - but at least focusing on the largest.

latchbrook over 5 years ago

I'm sorry to see that nobody has been able to come forward and tell you about their personal experience with radio frequency or microwave ablation. I don't have this experience to draw on either but I noticed that your post had gone unanswered.

I know it's not the same as hearing about someone's first hand experience but I have found this information for you on tumour ablation for liver cancer. You could also post any questions you have about this treatment in ask a nurse service if you wanted to ask any questions about the treatment.

"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"

FormerMember over 5 years ago in reply to latchbrook

Thank you for your response.

regards

FormerMember over 5 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Hi kbwife, funnily enough i was going to pose the samw question to the group as im going to see if idm suitable for this treatment as my liver is either improving or not.....i dont seeem to get a stable.

If i get any where i will let you know

FormerMember over 5 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Thank you Button 16.

And good luck to you.

FormerMember over 5 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Hi Button16

We met with the radiologist this morning and he told us that my husband is a candidate for radioembolisation, not for the radiofrequency or microwave ablation. He said that ablation is only for smaller tumors, usually 3 cm or smaller. Since my husbands largest tumor is about 12 cm he is not suitable for the ablation. But he will be having the radioembolisation done. The radiologist said that it is usually very successful in prolonging the length of life. usually in combo with the chemo it extends life about 1 year. So anything that will help to prolong his life is definitely well worth it. The Dr said that this is by no means a cure, but a life-extender. You never know, maybe during that extra year of life some other new treatment may come along. So we will take any and all options that we have.

Best wishes

FormerMember over 5 years ago in reply to FormerMember

That is great news I'm really happy for you. I'd definately take a year extension esp if it helps quality of life.

I don't see my doc for 2 weeks but I just think they say will say no to me as that's what they always do

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Liver Mets radio frequency or microwave ablation