Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayhawk
Actually, there is now what is called a "living transplant" that involves just a portion of a healthy liver. This is a regenerating organ, so in a best-case scenario, both the donor and the recipient will have a healthy liver that essentially re-grows. Pretty awesome stuff.
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Yes, thank you. I have read that the liver is a regenerating organ.
I checked back with the daughter in law. First of all, the m.i.l. had endocrine cancer of all the abdominal organs. Smaller tumors were removed.
She had half a dozen or more procedures on the liver.
There was some "slicing" off of the liver.
There was also many treatments of radiofrequency ablation.
Normally, it would takes months to recover from liver cancer surgery.
But, with radiofrequency "ablation" , which uses radio wave energy to HEAT THE TUMOR and "ablate" or destroy it........recovery can be at home.
A probe is directed through the skin, via scanner, directly to the site of the liver tumors.........the probe is hooked to an electronic device that delivers radiofrequency energy from the tip of slender needles protruding from the probe............multiple needle passes are used for HEATING larger tumors, ultimately leaving the patient with adequate liver function.
The tissue that is being heated literally "bubbles" because it is heated to boiling temperatures of 100 degrees Celsius? The needles are then slowly withdrawn and the patient can go home......
The side effects are minimal.......I'm reading :
FEVER, MALAISE, NAUSEA. That's exactly what she had.
Radiofrequency ablation is considered "palliative"........it's meant to reduce the size of liver tumors, plus to decrease the bulk of tumors that secrete noxious hormones......RATHER than eradicate all of the cancer.
I do remember "the beginning" when she was hospitilized and the secreting hormones "acted up" after eating things like bananas????
I believe she also had hot flashes........thinking it was menopause.
It gives patients hope. I guess the daughter in law and her mom assumed it was a total cure........but that's not exactly what Duke University is saying........
It's NOT a cure for the cancer.........but it extends life. It's palliative.
I learned something new today.........I keep her in my prayers; it has extended her life in order to see grandchildren born, grow, etc.
The radio isotopes?? came from Australia????????????
They were slow growing "carcinoid" tumors......and "neuroendocrine" tumors.......