I have to go to the doctor tomorrow...?

It's about the rare form of cancer I've been battling. They want to flood my liver (its not liver cancer it is intestinal, but that's where it spread) with a cirtain kind of chemotherapy. They want to check my blood to check my liver function to make sure my liver can handle it... and talk to me about the side effects... I'm not happy about this and I'm not sure what the right thing to do is. My last doc that moved to Boston, said that sometimes tumors can show up on a scan or look like they've grown, because they are dying and filling up with water. When really, they havent grown. I think i may get a different doctor as well... because I'm not as comfortable with my new doctor., I cant say why. I just don't really know what is really going on with the tumors and i don't want to have any unnecessary surgury like this or flooding of my liver. I do know that if i go through with it, i'll be sick in the hospital for a couple of days. Its a good thing I have my dad to help me with my son.

because i don't have anyone else around that can or will help me... it seems like they want to go forward with this, but i just don't want to be pressured into anything. I need prayer... please, would some of you pray for me? My appointment is at 2:30 tomorrow, and my name is Laura Thank you so much... G-d bless you.

It is difficult to tell from your description what the plan of treatment is . . are they going to do a chemoperfusion? That is when they do a surgery to remove all signs of cancer and than place heated chemo directly into the tumor bed? Or in your case directly into the liver.

Isolated hepatic perfusion
http://www.cancer.gov/Templates/db_alpha...

My son had a similar treatment called intra-peritoneal hyperthermic chemoperfusion to treat a rare abdominal sarcoma. His sarcoma had metastasized and shed hundreds of tiny implants into the abdominal cavity. . there was no way that surgery could remove them all . . and systemic chemotherapy only handled some of them not all of them (he had various sized tumors throughout the body). My son handled the surgery and chemoperfusion extremely well and was out of the hospital and recovering within 8 days. He had 8 months of remission after that and excellent quality of life. We knew going into the treatment that it might return, but feel that the treatment was simply amazing with the results considering how much cancer we were originally facing.

If your doctor is planning a chemperfusion there is probably a good reason for this. You should discuss this issue thoroughly with your doctor.

UPMC: Regional Liver Perfusion
http://www.upmccancercenters.com/perfusi...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query...

Good luck in whatever you decide to do. If the liver perfusion is something you don't wish to pursue, you might ask about RadioFrequency Abalation to see if the tumors can be ablated first? Ask your doctor.

I will pray for you!

Laura good luck and I'll be happy to do a few prayers for you. If you don't feel comfortable with the new doctor, ask him all the questions and tell him you will not endure any treatment until you understand completely what it is that they want to do it and why. It's OK to ask question and be adamant with finding out everything there is about your cancer. I do not advocate you finding another doctor until you are sure you have another one who can take you on and you have all your medical files. Do not waste time, get your treatment and look for another oncologist at the same time. If you need moral support you can lean on me, I'll listen to you. Good luck and be strong, I know that's hard, but keep saying to yourself that you are strong and that you will treat yourself with respect and that you want answers.

First of all, I will definitely pray for you!

Second, if what you have is colon cancer that has spread to your liver, I have had some patients have an intrahepatic pump placed, which is a pump that allows the chemo to be delivered directly into the vessels near the liver. They will often use 5FU in the pump. It is a valid treatment option.

If this is what you have (colon cancer--adenocarcinoma which has spread to the liver) there are also several chemotherapy drugs that can be given through your veins or a port, I don't know what you've been treated with so far.

If it's a different type of cancer, the procedure or treatments could be different from what I described.

If you are not comfortable with the new doctor, maybe it's because the communication is not there from the new doc. Or maybe the new doc doesn't have the greatest bedside manner but may still be a very good physician?

I would try talking to him/her directly about your concerns, ask if you can see your scans or the reports from them, ask why they feel this would be the best treatment and why they feel your cancer is progressing. Are there any tumor markers (like CEA) that they use for you? Write down any questions you have and bring them in. Do you have anyone you would like to come with you to the appointment, a family member or good friend? Is there a nurse or other staff member you feel comfortable with at the clinic? Maybe they could offer some input as well.

Another option would be that you can always get a second opinion. I would not necessarily eliminate this doctor, but just ask someone else for a consultation and options. They may very well say they agree with the treatment recommended by your doc and you can go ahead with it with added peace of mind.

Good luck to you and you've definitely got my prayers.

I will pray for you. Our God is an awesome God and he listens!

I will be praying for you.

Remember that God is your salvation. No matter what happens God is in control and that He loves you. You will see salvation soon.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16 KJV)

"by His wound you were healed."(I peter 2:24 LITV)

You WILL see this through and you will be healed!!!!!!!

God bless you and keep you