I had a liver resection in 2007.

Welcome Gale,  Glad to hear of your successful operation and ordeal with CC.  That Vena cava was about as close as you could get to having some serious complications. Wow!  Unfortunately side effects of such a major operation are more than not unavoidable.  It's great to hear your back at work and I wish you a continued positive future.  May I asked what part of the world did you have this delicate surgery.  Other members are always looking for good surgeons.  Did you do any post op chemo or radiation?
Again welcome to the site and please feel free to jump in at anytime.  The greater the interaction, the broader our knowledge becomes.

God Bless,
Jeff G.

Hi Gale,
Thanks for stopping by!  I'm wondering about the IVC thing, too.  My tumor is wrapped around the IVC, and for that reason they stopped trying to resect the tumor.  How were they able to do a resection on you with the IVC involved?  And like Jeff asked, where was your surgery done and who was your surgeon?  I'd like to contact him or her to get a 2nd opinion on my case.

Thanks,
Lisa

Oh my, I'm so excited at the response.  With the HIPPA rules, I've had no one to commeserate with!  I was originally told by the liver surgeon that he would not operate.  Being devestated, I don't remember what transpired after while sitting in his office BUT he contacted a co-worker (his words).  It took one month to coordinate the operation.  There were three surgeons, a liver surgeon, vascular surgeon (who I never met) and the lead surgeon was the director of transplants.   The operation was 8 hours.  During the surgery, the artery was "rerouted" through my neck while the surgeons removed 3 inches of the artery and replaced it with a synthetic material.  I was put into a coma (Okay, I'm crying now... how lucky to have the liver rejuvenate itself!!!!!!!!!!!).  The surgery was done at the Dartmouth Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.  It's a teaching hospital for Dartmouth College.  I suspected my operation was unusual but the posting confirmed it.  This website helps validate what I'm feeling and it's great to FINALLY talk to other WHO KNOW WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH.  I have questions.  I am very careful about the over-the-counter medicines I take but for a headache, should I take Tylenol or Advil?  I see I need to complete my profile.  Fatigue is a major issue.  Is this something I'll be dealing with the rest of my life?  Yes, I'm back to work full time, but I come home and I rest on the sofa and dinner is now a chore and I love to cook.  Any ideas?  I do attend a cancer support group which has been wonderful.  I have chronicled my experience (which has turned into a book).  I was having nightmares about death, blood, and the writings have gotten rid of them.  I highly suggest this to anyone who experiences nightmares.  Time to get ready for work.  Chat later.  Thanks again for the support.

Thanks Lisa,
I didnt know that. Advil it will be....or walmarts version.

Thanks for your input.  Has anyone had problems with scar tissue?  Resections come with a very large incision.  I've had pain back in May and it never really got addressed, except that the possibility of scar tissue grew to the point that it needed room and my insides had to "shift" to make room for the tissue.  The pain went away.  The doc did find a small hernia.  I'm on Ecotrin a day due to the IVC replacement.  Will I ever get my energy back?  It's been 1 1/2 years since my resection and I've made peace with the fact that my energy will not return to the way it was before.  I don't like being tired.  The stress of it goes to between my shoulders and neck and causes headaches.  Sorry to moan, I'm tired of being in pain around my neck and I have no energy.

Judy:  Thank you sooooooo much.  I found out I have bone spurs on my vertebre in my neck.. no wonder it causes pain.  It's soooooooo good to chat with someone with another resection.  In reading most of the postings on this website, most doctors won't operation.  I had a feeling my operation was rare.  Did they find CC again?  WOW, two resections!!! My admiration goes to you.  I too had fitness in my daily life.  I walk when I can.  When was your operations?  My abdomen is L-shaped also.  The day of my operation I took off my estrogen patch after being on them for 12 years.  I found that if I watch what I eat and keep the stress down, the hot flashes and night sweats subside.  I really wanted to know about energy levels in other. THANK YOU, THANK YOU for confirming it.  I loved aerobics also.  The owner of the fitness business has been in touch but had to tell her I just can't anymore.  Judy, it has been so wonderful to get your posting.  Let's keep in touch.  Gale.

Hi Lisa:  Yeah, I've made peace with the fatness.  Horray - the tumor hasn't spread for you.  How often do you go for checkups?  I had bloodwork and CTScan last week and I see the oncologist tomorrow with the results.  I hold my breath!  I go for bloodwork every three months and CTScans every 6 months. Let's keep in touch... Thanks again, Lisa.  It's starting to get cold here in New Hampshire - How's the weather, your way?

Hi Nikki, glad to have you join our little club.  I hope the best for your Mom!

Gale, the forecast here is for rain, followed by showers, followed by more rain.  If you were a Northwesterner, you would know what that means, haha!

I haven't made peace with the fatness yet, but then again I think the reason I want to be thin(er) is to attract a man, so that seems like a rather superficial reason to want to be fit.  Ha - no man would want to get involved with a woman with cancer anyway.  So really the weight gain shouldn't bother me, but a lifetime of angst over my weight is hard to overcome.

Thanks so much for responding to my postings.  Nikki66, my tumor was 10.3CM (about 5 inches) I was Stage IIIB.  I had only one primary (ONE BIG, HONKIN' TUMOR)  Mine was in my right lobe.  It was an intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.  It took a month in the hospital, my Mom took care of me (You used wonderful adjectives for your Mom, diddo for my Mom), along with my husband, son and friends.  Get lots of help when she is home from the hospital.  Caregivers NEED lots of help!!!!  If people don't offer.... ask them!  I found many people don't know what to say, so they stay away but given the question to help, they are there for you in a heartbeat.  I went back to work part time four months after the operation and went back to work full time one year later.  Let's keep in touch. Gale.

Swarty!:  I never went through chemo, there are other introductions that you'll find helpful.  I just know not to go through it by yourself.

I too had a 6cm tumor in my right lobe, wrapped around the IVC. I was told I was stage IIIB and inoperable. However, I talked my surgeon into recommending me for a liver transplant. He sent me to Mt Sinai Hospital and Dr. Suku Emre who said a resection was doable and preferable to a transplant. The tumor simply had not invaded the IVC so it simply pulled away when Dr. Emre cut it. That was June 2007.

I had an excellent year of health until July 2008 when scans showed the CC had returned in the liver and lymph glands. I am now at Mass General Hospital in Boston getting a chemotherapy regimen of Oxcalliplatin and Gemzar. I am advised that the best hope is a 40% chance of slowing the growth.

Thanks for sharing your stories. It is helpful to know we are not alone.

P.S. Dr. Emre is now the head of the Transplant Unit at Yale University Hospital.