This is actually a question

[Wassup]

I'm trying not to. worry, about the dull pain @ my liver, I've gotta wait til 4-28 to hear about my CT scan.  I would have thought that a liver biopsy would have depicted  if it was cancer?.  I wonder if the biopsy has to come directly from the "mass" to determine if it's malignant?.  If that's not the case, do they have to check specifically in a persons blood for cancer? or is it a higher/lower level of some enzyme in ones' blood that would be an indicator? and if so, which thing in the blood would depict the possible presence of a malignancy?

This is not a multiple choice question, just a multiple question, question! LOL

[Wassup]

Thank you sooo much for the info. well wishes and your prayers. they are all very reassuring and informative.  I'm printing your posts, above, for my book.

I did have both a barium,"banana smoothie', and an iodine injection, prior to my CT scan, on the 17th and a BT yesterday for Creatinin?, so hard to read Dr. Script.  I'm sort of waiting for a call back from my NP.  I know the BT rslts are in 'cause sect. said she was waiting for the NP to read them. I don't know if my CT  was multi-phase helical, but thanks for a question to ask my NP. Then you can tell me why you hoped that it was.
I'm somewhat relieved, but still sooo confused.  Good Grief, a body practically needs an M.D. Degree to be, even the slightest bit, proactive in ones' TX of Hep. Do I hear a "Right On",fellow Heppers?
Thanks a gazillion, my friends. You're all soooo cool.Hugs, Ant B

[eureka254]

Usually liver biopsy is done to establish the condition of the 'normal liver parynchema' -- and, in the recent past, it was not uncommon to actually biopsy a 'mass' if seen -- but in the past few years, evidence has strongly suggested that biopsy of a malignant liver tumor can actually spread the cancer (referred to as "seeding"), so other tests/screenings/imagings are usually recommended first.  (Therefore, if you had a routine liver biopsy, it most likely would not give you any information about the mass.)

Unfortunately, there are no "absolute" blood markers for primary liver cancer (a patient w/HCC can exhibit abnormal as well as normal liver enzymes) -- however, with your ultrasound finding, your doc should have drawn an AFP (alpha-feto protein), which is present in high levels in about 60-70% of HCC patients.  A normal AFP level does not exclude cancer, but a high AFP (>400 ng/mL) would be very indicative of carcinoma.  

Keep in mind that the majority of 'liver masses' are not cancer-- it is more frequent to find 'non malignant' masses (hemangioma, adenoma, FNH, liver cyst, focal fatty infiltration, etc.)  

I wonder if your doctor's office could be persuaded to give you an earlier appointment? I can't imagine a CT-Scan result taking more than a week to get to them.  (Btw, I hope it was a multi-phase helical-CT w/contrast?)  

Try not to worry to much... but I'll be praying for you in the meantime!

[nygirl7]

PS Liver enzymes are created when a liver cell dies - it releases an enzyme. So the higher your number the more death going on. However mine were in the 200s and it was from the fibrosis - had nothing to do with tumors or HCV at all.

If they aren't seeing any markers you are probably just absolutely fine.

I still don't understand why you have to wait so long - can't you call and have them fax you  the results? You should always get a copy of your test results anyway and keep them in a file for the future for this disease they will come in EXTREMELY handy later on.

[nygirl7]

The ultrasound will let you know if you have any tumors - but I'm not sure why you think you do since it would be very rare? I got my results right on the spot - why can't you hear earlier?

I thought (mistakenly) when they said everything was fine that it meant I had no fibrosis.  My stupid PCP told me I had no fibrosis.  I was shocked when I had my biopsy and was already stage 3. Just don't make the same mistake as me. If I wasn't more aggressive about it my PCP wouldn't have advised me to treat (because she didn't know better).

Make sure you get your biopsy afterwards but I'm sure you are fine.

By the way there aren't any nerves in your liver to feel any real sort of "pain".  That is why a biopsy is uncomfortable but not painful.  There is nothing to feel it.

So don't worry about that it's probably just nerves.

[zellyf]

I had a scare in the fall when they found two small tumors on my liver by u/s.  I had to get an MRI b/c I can't get the iodine contrast with CT.  The MRI showed only one tumor about 5 mm.  Both the U/S and MRI were highly suspicious of hemangioma.  I have to go back in July to see if its growing but my doctor said its like 99.9% hemangioma.

I really know how you're feeling and in fact you seem to be handling it FAR better than I did.  You must be a real roll-with-punches kind of woman because I've followed your story and it hasn't been easy times for you.  I admire your spirit and I draw strength from your approach to life.  Like Meki, I can't answer your questions but I want to let you know that I'm on your side.

We all know the best way to wait for test results is to stay busy with the day-to-day of life.  

[meki]

I don't want you to think folks aren't reading this...

I can answer only one of those questions.... LOL!

There are blood tests than can determine if you have tumor markers --- they aren't a guarantee - but they show some points in the blood that could mean tumors.

I don't know about the enzyme part --- nor do I know about malignancy or not --- I think benign and malignant has to be determined by pathology.

The reason I know those things is because just prior to my hysterectomy - they ran a battery of tests because I had fibroids, tumors and cysts on an ovary and my uterus...So I had a scan/xray/blood tests etc...

To determine if the tumors were malignant they had to slice them off (biopsy) during the hysterectomy and send them to pathology immediately for observation. If they had been - they would have taken BOTH ovaries.

Anyhow - for tumors or cancer - I think that you have to get a biopsy of the mass - and then they can determine further...

But the blood tests can determine whether you have specific markers of "cancer" or tumors.

I know that doesn't help you - when you're probably biting your nails off...

But just like finding out about HCV --- and everything involved... It's a hurry up and wait game...

Keep your mind occupied and hang in there.

Hugs,

Meki