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You are here : Cancer Blog > Liver Cancer Blog > Charliec's Cancer Blog

Vital Info

Name:
Charlie (charliec)

Member Since:
January 24, 2011

Location:
Chula Vista, California 91915

Birthday:
November 3, 1952

Profile:
Cancer Fighter

Cancer Info

Type of Cancer:
Liver Cancer

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer:
Hepatocellular carcinoma

Diagnosis Date:
October 20, 2010

Tumor Size:
03

Lymph Node Involvement:
No

What I Hate Most About Cancer:
It steals my energy

What I Have Learned From Cancer:
Not to give up, there" always hope.

Tips for others on how to deal with the mental struggles of chemo/cancer:
Stay positive, it could be worse, really!

Liver Cancer Symptoms:

Tierdness, constantly cold.

Stats

Posts: 14

Photos: 0

Events: 2

My Supporters: 14

I Support: 10

Comments: 57

Charliec's Cancer Blog

Back at work.

I’ve been back at work for for two weeks now, and each day has its own set of challenges. I work in a shipyard as a gantry crane operator.

Two weeks ago when I came back I still had chemo brain, so I asked to work on the ground. My God it’s a struggle to walk for eight hours. The cancer still sucks the energy form my body.

I hate cancer and what it has done to me, at the same time I have to admit that all things considered I’m still on the lucky end of the scale. Beside being constantly cold and sapped of my energy, my eyes still open every morning I live pain free, I still have my family’s support and love. So its not all that bad.

CT scan in to weeks to assess if the last TACE shrunk the tumor and determine if I need another round of treatment.

Your all in my prayers, I hope everyone meets that next milestone whatever it may be and together we’ll beat cancer!

Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:41:57 AM by Charlie (Back at work., 1 comment, 206 views)

Hoping for good results from your CT scan! Cancer surely present many challenges and I admire you for the strength you’ve shown in meeting the ones you’ve faced. My thoughts and prayers are with you!

Posted on May 11, 2012 at 9:22:45 AM by CarolS

Back in the thick of the fight

In my last post in February I was high on the transplant list for a new liver, my cancer… was a distant memory and I had just had a MRI to confirm thins were stable. Then my world came crashing down around me.

My Interventional Radiologist/Oncologist called to say I had a new tumor 8mm in size and invading the Portal vein. My heart sunk, that was outside the parameters for a transplant.
As far as I was concerned my hopes and dreams had just ended, I was being tied to the post with the firing squad just feet away.

I was able to schedule a trip to Los Angles for a TACE treatment. As I was waiting on the gurney the doctor was reading me the disclaimer abbot the hazards for the procedure.
He told me we are going to very aggressive this time, using a stronger chemo agent and the addition of drug eluding beads that would first release an embolization agent and micrometer-sized polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel particles preloaded with doxorubicin, combining vascular embolization with intratumoral drug release. Loads of fun!

Now I can really appreciate what other go through with their chemo. I thought this stuff was going to kill me, day after day more of the beads would be released into my system.
I found the only way to escape was sleep.
Today is two weeks post procedure, and it’s the first day I have felt well enough to be up and out of bed all day.
All I can do now is hold my head up and press on, day by day.
Hope I haven’t bored anyone.
Charlie

Posted on April 26, 2012 at 1:23:11 PM by Charlie (Back in the thick of the fight, 6 comments, 395 views)

CarolS, Sarah S threw a punch at your cancer.

Jennifer sent you a prayer.

I’m so sorry, please don’t give up, you are young and they can do so much now. Do you know how long you have to have treatment? Please let us know how you do. :)

Posted on April 26, 2012 at 1:29:28 PM by Laurie

I have read all of your posts. Don’t give up Charlie! The oncologist would not have you go thru this procedure if he did not feel it would ultimately kill the cancer. If this chemo battle on the tumor shrink or entirely kill the tumor invading the portal vein would that make you a strong candidate again for a new liver? Keep your hope alive dear man! You and God will beat this! I will be praying for you! hugs-Stacey

Posted on April 26, 2012 at 3:36:11 PM by Stacey

Keep us posted…..you have many people here praying for you!

Posted on April 26, 2012 at 3:36:59 PM by Stacey

Giving up is not an option! As the chemo clears my system life slowly returns to… I haven’t known normal for two years now but we can get close!
In about for week I get a CT so they can assess the size and state of the tumor. After that a decision will be made on further treatment.

@ Stacy, My days on the transplant list are history!
The one thing that made my jaw hit the floor before being wheeled into the Cath lab was, My wife asked the doctor if we achived proper tumor shrinkage or total eradication could I get back on the list?
The doctor said if I had gotten the transplant and then been put on immunosuppressive drugs like Prograf my body would fill with cancer in no time.
SO I guess my job is to fight each new tumor as they come along until my liver fails.

Posted on April 26, 2012 at 4:17:45 PM by Charlie

Bless you Charlie! Hang in there! I am so sorry you are having to go through this, but, thank goodness there is a treatment option for you..and I will keep you in my prayers that it kills all of your cancer! You are in my thoughts and prayers! Hang in there! Sending you hugs! I hope today is a better day!