Greetings all. Here’s the latest on my recent liver surgery. First, for those not familiar with what led up to this surgery, I’ll begin with a re-cap ...
In January 2004 I had a physical and they found elevated liver enzymes, which indicated something was wrong with my liver. Over the next few months … further tests and blood work, including an ultrasound were performed … all negative, but the enzymes were still elevated.
An MRI was performed in April and an abnormal mass was found on my liver. A very dear friend of mine who works at MD Anderson (Houston) strongly suggested I go to MDA for a second opinion. She set up an appointment for me with a one of the top liver specialists and I went there for tests in May.
A CT scan was performed at MDA and also found the abnormal mass (4.5 cm). A liver biopsy confirmed it was cancer. I also had a CT scan of the chest and an EGD with colonoscopy (upper/lower GI) and all those came back negative. This strongly suggested the cancer was confined to the liver and had not spread anywhere else.
The doctor’s diagnosis was I had a rare form of primary liver cancer that begins in the bile ducts (called intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma). Articles I’ve read said the incidence rate is about 1 in 100,000 to 200,000 people; another I read said only 3,000 people is the US are diagnosed with this yearly so it is pretty rare. Even rarer for me was I had no other known risk factors that typically lead to this … so there’s really no way to determine just how I got it, but I did.
Recommended treatment for this type of cancer was surgery, called a liver resection. The liver is the only organ able to regenerate itself, and the plan was to “cut” 75-80% of the liver … and it will still continue to function until it “grows” back to normal size in a couple of months.
On 5/25 I had the liver resection surgery at MDA. Surgery took 5-6 hours and I was then in ICU and/or recovery for a 1-2 days, and then moved to a private room. The operation went extremely well and the doctors said it could not have gone any better than it did. The entire medical staff at MDA truly are miracle workers!
On 6/1 I was released from the hospital and am home now for rest and recuperation but it will be a long recovery process. May take up to 6 weeks before I’m completely well and able to go back to work. My brother from Oklahoma is acting as “home nurse” for a week and I will also be spending some time with my parents in my hometown (El Campo, TX) while I recuperate. I am still tired however each day I feel I am getting better with my recovery. The fact I am younger and in otherwise good health, that should help with the recovery process, too.
The doctor indicated the “margins” of the liver/cancer looked good, meaning it had not spread past where they had made the cut of the liver. I have a follow-up appointment next week with my doctor for further tests and to discuss any future schedules, treatments, and such. However, there is currently no talk of any needed chemo or radiation.
Cancer works in mysterious ways so there is still a possibility it can come back (like all types of cancers can). However I can’t dwell on that for now … and will have to tackle that only IF it happens.
I want to thank all of you who kept me in your thoughts and prayers during these times … and who sent gifts, cards, visited, and called while I was in the hospital … that was REALLY appreciated.
You may e-mail me at home or phone … although if you call I’ll be spending time between my home and my parents in El Campo and don’t have a definite plan on just where I’ll be. If you’re in the Houston area, you’re also welcome to visit me when I’m home, but please call first to make sure I’m around.
