Re: Still available to help

[Guest guest]

The liver couldn't be saved because the tumor load was too extensive.

Resection or Radiofrequency Ablation are extremely effective in dealing with

the

liver but the tumors must be located in only one lobe or few in number for them

to be able to do it.

The liver specialist tried a pump with FUDR directly to the liver but I

guess the load was just too much. His whole liver is chock full of tumors. This

pump is something those of you with an early stage 4 diagnosis DEFINITELY want

to explore.

Here is some information for those of you with liver mets. If you are on the

East Coast Pittsburgh is the place to be as they are doing a good amount of

research into this.

This information is from The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center:

Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy

Tumors which are confined to the liver but because of their size, location

or number, are too advanced for surgical removal, may be amenable to

chemotherapy treatments directed to the liver. Hepatic arterial infusion

chemotherapy

is a treatment whereby a catheter is surgically implanted into the artery

that feeds the liver and connected to a pump, which can be placed under the

skin. This pump is then loaded with chemotherapy and the chemotherapy is pumped

directly into the blood vessels that supply the tumors in the liver. The

chemotherapy is then broken down in the liver so that the rest of the body does

not experience the side effects that are typically associated with

chemotherapy. The tumor is exposed to very concentrated drug over a long period

of time,

whereas the rest of the body experiences minimal to no side effects.

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy has been around for many years and

has been accepted as one tool in the management of patients with cancer

confined to the liver. The chance of responding to this type of treatment in

patients with colorectal cancer metastases ranges from between 50 - 75%. The

duration of this response is an average of 10-12 months. More recent studies

have

suggested that this treatment can be used after surgical removal or ablation of

tumors in the liver to help prevent recurrence.

While this treatment requires surgical implantation of the catheter and

pump, the chemotherapy is being delivered by the pump, and most patients can

lead

a completely normal life while their liver is receiving chemotherapy. This

technique and its indications are continually being refined. We are

continually working on making the treatment more effective and easier on the

patients.

Radiofrequency Ablation

Cancer in the liver has traditionally been approached with surgical

resection or chemotherapy given intravenously. Recently techniques for the local

ablation of liver tumors have become popular. These techniques may avoid an open

operation and may, in some cases, be safer than surgical removal of the

tumors. Local ablation has been studied in many forms including microwave,

laser,

high intensity focused ultrasound, local injection of alcohol or chemotherapy,

and cryotherapy. The thermal ablation of tumors involves heating the tumors

to extremely high temperatures until the tumor cells die. This heating can be

performed simply and reliably using radiofreqency waves in a technique

called Radiofrequency ablation (RFA). This technique has already been

extensively

studied and has shown to be a safe and reliable means of ablating liver

tumors. This procedure can be performed as an open operation or at the time of

laparoscopy. The tumor is identified using an ultrasound probe placed on the

liver. The needle tip Radiofrequency probe is then inserted into the tumor and

the heating is begun. Care must be taken to make sure that all margins of the

spherical tumor are heated to an appropriate temperature to allow for a

complete ablation of the tumor. This requires moderate experience to be

successful

with this technique. The Radiofrequency approach has the added benefit of

preventing bleeding as the heat cauterizes blood vessels and destroys them.

While this technique is exciting and potentially much easier on the patient,

it must be considered only one tool in the armamentarium of treatment for

liver tumors. In some cases, a combination of surgical removal and

Radiofrequency ablation may be the best approach. These decisions are made after

carefully examining the extent and location of tumors within the liver.

I know chemo is not fun but keep it up it does a lot of good. And of course

tell everyone you know to get a colonoscopy.

Best Wishes to all of you

With Hugs and Prayers

Narice

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for that Narice! It is very scary - considering Phil's

situation. I do have lots of questions - still - while I am a survivor - every

little symptom scares me - I sometimes think maybe I am becoming a hypochondriac

because of this illness. I never did bother to ask TOO many questions - and was

just a good patient and did whatever the docs said - a long time I remained in

the initial shock of it and just couldn't handle too much info. I am now hungry

to find out anything I can and to help prevent this from reoccuring - or

happening to someone else. At the very least I want to be knowledgeable enough

to support others - as you are doing. God Bless you today - hope Phil and you

have a good one.

Pat

Grandmommyandme@... wrote:

In a message dated 11/28/2005 7:03:20 AM Eastern Standard Time,

flipper759@... writes:

The board was very quiet this weekend. I just want to say that while Phil

IS

my first priority please don't be afraid to ask questions. There are lots

of

people here that still need help fighting this monster. It DOES help me

cope

when I can help all of you. We have a lot of new people and I just want to

tell them that there is a lot of hope.

Please don't let Phil's situation scare you away. On initial diagnosis he

was given only a few months and he got 2 and1/2 years and they were GOOD

years.

Erbitux and Avastin are wonderful powerful weapons in this battle Avastin

actually dissolved Phil's 13 cm primary colon tumor! Who knows what it can

do

for someone new to the battle.

We are in this together. Let's continue to help each other no matter where

we are in this journey.

Narice

I'm with you on this, Narice!!! Hope everyone had a busy and happy

Thanksgiving with lots of turkey and pumpkin pies...never got my pies made!!!

There's always tomorrow...tomorrow!!! LOL

Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

Caregiver to Glenn

[Guest guest]

Narice

Thank you for sharing that Phil's avastin shrank his

13 cm tumor. I had lost hope on that one. I don't

have liver problems so far but was wondering why the

liver could not be saved. Do you have some insight to

share on that one.

I know this is hard and I won't blame you if you

ignore it. I leave in a minute to see the onc and I

have infusion tomorrow. Gangs and gangs of fun.

Len

--- flipper759@... wrote:

---------------------------------

The board was very quiet this weekend. I just want to

say that while Phil IS

my first priority please don't be afraid to ask

questions. There are lots of

people here that still need help fighting this

monster. It DOES help me cope

when I can help all of you. We have a lot of new

people and I just want to

tell them that there is a lot of hope.

Please don't let Phil's situation scare you away. On

initial diagnosis he

was given only a few months and he got 2 and1/2 years

and they were GOOD years.

Erbitux and Avastin are wonderful powerful weapons in

this battle Avastin

actually dissolved Phil's 13 cm primary colon tumor!

Who knows what it can do

for someone new to the battle.

We are in this together. Let's continue to help each

other no matter where

we are in this journey.

Narice

[Guest guest]

Len, Please know that I am on the side lines begging for the

infusions to work and heal you. Praying so hard!!!! Love, Ingrid

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

>

> The board was very quiet this weekend. I just want to

> say that while Phil IS

> my first priority please don't be afraid to ask

> questions. There are lots of

> people here that still need help fighting this

> monster. It DOES help me cope

> when I can help all of you. We have a lot of new

> people and I just want to

> tell them that there is a lot of hope.

>

> Please don't let Phil's situation scare you away. On

> initial diagnosis he

> was given only a few months and he got 2 and1/2 years

> and they were GOOD years.

> Erbitux and Avastin are wonderful powerful weapons in

> this battle Avastin

> actually dissolved Phil's 13 cm primary colon tumor!

> Who knows what it can do

> for someone new to the battle.

>

> We are in this together. Let's continue to help each

> other no matter where

> we are in this journey.

> Narice

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Narice, Thank You so much for this information. I am sure it helps a

lot here who read it. I know a lot here read and don't post.

Hopefully it reaches someone here who is in need of this information.

Love, Ingrid

>

>

>

>

> The liver couldn't be saved because the tumor load was too

extensive.

> Resection or Radiofrequency Ablation are extremely effective in

dealing with the

> liver but the tumors must be located in only one lobe or few in

number for them

> to be able to do it.

>

> The liver specialist tried a pump with FUDR directly to the liver

but I

> guess the load was just too much. His whole liver is chock full of

tumors. This

> pump is something those of you with an early stage 4 diagnosis

DEFINITELY want

> to explore.

>

> Here is some information for those of you with liver mets. If you

are on the

> East Coast Pittsburgh is the place to be as they are doing a good

amount of

> research into this.

>

> This information is from The University of Pittsburgh Medical

Center:

>

>

> Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy

>

>

> Tumors which are confined to the liver but because of their size,

location

> or number, are too advanced for surgical removal, may be amenable

to

> chemotherapy treatments directed to the liver. Hepatic arterial

infusion chemotherapy

> is a treatment whereby a catheter is surgically implanted into the

artery

> that feeds the liver and connected to a pump, which can be placed

under the

> skin. This pump is then loaded with chemotherapy and the

chemotherapy is pumped

> directly into the blood vessels that supply the tumors in the

liver. The

> chemotherapy is then broken down in the liver so that the rest of

the body does

> not experience the side effects that are typically associated with

> chemotherapy. The tumor is exposed to very concentrated drug over

a long period of time,

> whereas the rest of the body experiences minimal to no side

effects.

> Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy has been around for many

years and

> has been accepted as one tool in the management of patients with

cancer

> confined to the liver. The chance of responding to this type of

treatment in

> patients with colorectal cancer metastases ranges from between 50 -

75%. The

> duration of this response is an average of 10-12 months. More

recent studies have

> suggested that this treatment can be used after surgical removal

or ablation of

> tumors in the liver to help prevent recurrence.

> While this treatment requires surgical implantation of the

catheter and

> pump, the chemotherapy is being delivered by the pump, and most

patients can lead

> a completely normal life while their liver is receiving

chemotherapy. This

> technique and its indications are continually being refined. We

are

> continually working on making the treatment more effective and

easier on the patients.

>

>

>

> Radiofrequency Ablation

>

> Cancer in the liver has traditionally been approached with

surgical

> resection or chemotherapy given intravenously. Recently techniques

for the local

> ablation of liver tumors have become popular. These techniques may

avoid an open

> operation and may, in some cases, be safer than surgical removal of

the

> tumors. Local ablation has been studied in many forms including

microwave, laser,

> high intensity focused ultrasound, local injection of alcohol or

chemotherapy,

> and cryotherapy. The thermal ablation of tumors involves heating

the tumors

> to extremely high temperatures until the tumor cells die. This

heating can be

> performed simply and reliably using radiofreqency waves in a

technique

> called Radiofrequency ablation (RFA). This technique has already

been extensively

> studied and has shown to be a safe and reliable means of ablating

liver

> tumors. This procedure can be performed as an open operation or at

the time of

> laparoscopy. The tumor is identified using an ultrasound probe

placed on the

> liver. The needle tip Radiofrequency probe is then inserted into

the tumor and

> the heating is begun. Care must be taken to make sure that all

margins of the

> spherical tumor are heated to an appropriate temperature to allow

for a

> complete ablation of the tumor. This requires moderate experience

to be successful

> with this technique. The Radiofrequency approach has the added

benefit of

> preventing bleeding as the heat cauterizes blood vessels and

destroys them.

>

> While this technique is exciting and potentially much easier on

the patient,

> it must be considered only one tool in the armamentarium of

treatment for

> liver tumors. In some cases, a combination of surgical removal and

> Radiofrequency ablation may be the best approach. These decisions

are made after

> carefully examining the extent and location of tumors within the

liver.

>

>

> I know chemo is not fun but keep it up it does a lot of good. And

of course

> tell everyone you know to get a colonoscopy.

>

>

> Best Wishes to all of you

> With Hugs and Prayers

> Narice

>