floss32 wrote:I read a lot on here that people want to become operable, because this is the best chance for survival?
How many times can one do surgery on the liver?
My main concern are complications from this surgery. My Dad's quality of life is very good. He works full time, looks great very healthy. Will this really extend his life vs. not doing the surgery and just doing more chemo?
Any statistics showing the advantage to doing surgery on recurrences a second time vs. just leaving things as they are? .
Yes, surgery offers the best chance for longer term survival and longer term remission, even the low possibility of a cure.
Only a liver surgeon is really qualified to answer the question of how many liver surgeries one can tolerate. Without the removal of major blood vessels, the liver CAN regenerate if given enough time, and multiple liver surgeries is not only possible but I've seen it done a bunch around here. When you have to remove entire lobes and/or most of the major blood vessel supply for the liver, that's when repeat surgical possibility can be limited. None of us are either qualified to answer how that translates specifically to your dad, nor do we even have his scans/history/etc. It CAN be done, but only his surgeons can give you a good idea about whether it SHOULD be done.
None of us have a crystal ball to say any of the following definitively; 'Your dad will sail through surgery, be cured, and live a long life;' 'Your dad will have massive complications from surgery and die a week later;' 'Chemo would have been better because of his adverse reaction to surgery;' 'Surgery would have been better because his tumors became resistant and didn't respond to chemo;' etc, etc. There are so many iterations here, it's almost dizzying and none of us can predict the future. The best we can do is relay the basic reality that surgery offers the "best" chance for longterm treatment success, though it's not an open and shut decision. Your father should discuss with his Drs whether HE specifically is at more or less risk for surgical complications based on his age, history, and tumor location. I'm 34, healthy, and have lots to live for. If I personally had one liver tumor that a surgeon said he could remove, I'd have him chop it out right away. The risk is worth the longterm reward for me. Dunno how old your father is, but that reward might not be so long anyways depending on the rest of his overall health. I wish I could give you a concrete answer, I just can't. The best suggestion I think I can offer is to have your dad ask himself the following after really discussing with his surgeon his personal risks; "Given the risks, if I choose to NOT do the surgery, and the cancer comes back, will I regret that decision?"
Lastly, the data indicate relatively similar survival rates between 1st and 2nd resections given the same number and size of tumors. Especially when both surgeries involve single, solitary mets.
11/13/09 5cm Stage IV 9/25 lymph nodes w/2cm peritoneal met at 29 YoA
12/15/09 LA right hemi-colectomy
6/16/10 Folfox
FINISHED8/10/10 Prophylactic HIPEC
10/9/10 got Married
Still NED and living life to the fullest
"Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life."