7/15 Thurday Diagnosed Liver Cancer

Met with Dr. Goss and his team to discuss my potential as a transplant recipient. Based on the evidence of the presence of lesions, Cirrhosis, and elevated Alphafeto-protein Dr. Goss declared that I do have Hepatocellular carcinoma, a common form of liver cancer. Dr. Goss exuded confidence that if I meet all the criteria for a transplant that there would be a liver available to extend my life significantly. A recipient of a donor liver can live 20-30 years.

To be eligible for a liver transplant I must meet the following criteria:

1 – Cancer must not have spread to other organs most likely the lungs or bone marrow. Dr. Goss has put me on a fast track, within a week, to get a Metastatic Workup to determine if the cancer has spread.

2 – Sum of size of cancer must be less than < 9 cm total. As of now 4+4.2+2.4=10.6, but the Root Sum Squared is only 6.2. I did not get any bites on my question about RSS vs sum. Possibilities for compliance 1- the lesions can be reduced by treatment, 2-one of the lesions is a goose and we only count ducks, 3-RSS, 4-they rely don’t mean it and this is just a guideline. I’m hanging my hopes on Dr. Goss’s positive outlook.

While at the BCM Liver Center I was also assigned a Hematologist, Dr. Stribling, who is on Dr. Goss’s team. I have also been directed and have succeeded to secure an appt with the team Oncologist, Dr. Holoye. I have the “A” team for Houston and surrounding area. Aren’t we glad we have private health care in the USA.

The other piece of relevant data that I(we) learned is the blood marker Alpha-fetoprotein Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level can be used as a barometer of the cancer progression. As the lesions create the AFP, they can monitor for progression and response to treatment through the trending of this marker. As for scale - 0 is healthy, 11 is Abby normal, > 200 is real cause for concern, mine is 1210, can go into the thousands to 10’s of thousands.