a liver operation or other alternatives?????help please

[#1]

would there be anyone out there that could give me any info please.ive just had a ct scan and it showed that my liver mets have grown.my oncologist now wants to send me 2 bris 4 a pet scan and a consult with a liver surgeon.im not very keen about having surgery especialy if there are other less invasive alternatives out there.has anyone had a liver op??can you shed any light for me about it.other options may be radiofrequency ablation andthe new drug cetuximab.also has anyone any info on cyberknife????would be fantatic 2 hear from someone soon........ worried bigmumma

[Jules2]

Hi I have had cetuximab and it appears to be used for quite a few cancers now. It attacks the EGFR's of the skin and helps to stop tumours forming. I had via infusion, once a fortnight and mine was comined with radiotherapy also. I can give you a run down of side effects if you want. Not sure about the other info you wanted, although i have read a bit about it ... just dont feel at all qualified to answer - sorry. :) Julie

[#3]

thanks 4 your reply julie. would love any info you have on cetuximab.how long have you been on it ? ive been told if i pay $20000 initialy the govt takes care of rest. also been told by my oncologist that i could maybe qualify 4 a trial, then it is free,but the trials are in townsville & bris. i live inland from cairns so thats a tough one.he told me a skin rash is a big side effect. bigmumma

[Jules2]

Hi Skin rash is definitely one of the side effects. Combined with sore muscles ... combined with ... fatigue. That was while i was having the cetux. Afterwards my eyelashes grew really long and all my hair "everywhere" doubled / tripled. Still having some muscle soreness but apart from that the hair has gone back to normalish proportions. Dont stress re the hair and eyelashes because i am apparently the only person in west aus that has had that reaction. They are apparently getting great results with this drug and as far as a cancer drug goes it is prolly not as invasive as some are. Hope that helps you ... oh you might have a problem with infections also, but keeping in contact with your oncology team can help that and they prescribed me some antibiotics a couple of times. Julie

[#5]

how long were you on it julie....also costing of it.how come you have ceased cetux.sounded like it would be long term.bring on the long eye lashes...havent got many left since chemo lol. bigmumma

[Jules2]

Hi bigmumma I was on it for 4 doses ... not absolutely sure what my dosage rate was but I was told it was the highest one i could have. I didnt have to pay as it was part of my treatment. You could ask your oncologist to see if it could be part of a trial or if they might donate some to you? I had the cetux as a combination with my radiotherapy. It caused me all sorts of problems with skin burning etc... It is all healed up now though. lol re eyelashes they were absolutely painful, although, i got lots of comments on how gorgeous they were. They all dropped off and i am glad as they hit my glasses and would get tangled at times when i blinked. Used to have to use a finger to get my eye open at times!

[Jules2]

I forgot to add the incredibly dry skin side effect.

[Jules2]

I forgot to add the incredibly dry skin side effect.

[#9]

thanks julie,every bit of info helps. off 2 bris in morn 4 pet scan and specialists. will see what the next chapter holds. smiles 2 all. bigmumma

[Jules2]

Hi bigmumma hope tomorrow goes smoothly for you, it is always a bit "thingy" when we are waiting for results. When do you get your results?