Liver Updates

Hi all,

We're reporting back after Nick's liver surgeon consult today...

All in all, it was a LOT of waiting around, a lot of reassuring info and a little bit of new info as well. We met with a resident in the morning and Nick answered some basic questions. Then the "tumor board" (surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, etc.) met to discuss Nick's and the other patients' cases for the next hour and a half or so.

They called us back in and we waited another hour and a half in the exam room before Dr. Yeung finally came in. He said that they were in agreement with Dr. Back that because Nick is doing so well on his chemo regimen, he should continue without interrupting treatment for surgery.

One of other reasons (in addition to the effectiveness of the chemo) that Dr. Yeung recommends waiting on the liver resection is that the cancer spots that are there are so small, there is a risk of not being able to see them once the surgeons get in to do the surgery. It makes it more complicated when the spots are small or have disappeared.

The board also recommended radiation to the original tumor site following the systemic chemo. This isn't something we've discussed in any length with Dr. Back and because of the side effects associated with radiation, it will be something that Nick will have to carefully consider over the next few months.

We also learned that of the spots that are visible, they are almost entirely on the left lobe. There is one that is sort of in the middle but for the most part, they all fall on the same side of the liver, which is good news.

None of this was a surprise but it was good to get another opinion (or a whole group's opinion, really) on next steps, and it's reassuring that they are in agreement with Dr. Back on everything.

So, Nick will have his next infusion on Thursday. Feel free to stop by SCCA on Thursday afternoon if you're in the neighborhood!

Cheers,

Sally