My friend was diagnosed with cancer of the rectum last week that has metaatasised to both lobes of the liver. He is meeting the MDT on Tuesday (with me) and a surgical consultant mentioned that he will have chemo before anything and that cancer of the liver found in both lobes is not usually operable. The liver team will now have met to discuss their view. Is it the case, if the chemo shrinks the liver cancer, that he can have an operation?
Hi and thanks for the query, He can have the surgery. However, the team of the liver will actually have to meet. The liver is responsible for the production of most clotting factors. The state of the liver is therefore very important to ascertain to what degree he can tolerate surgery without bleeding excessively. Based on findings of the liver function tests and other tests, management could then be adjusted, either by injecting specific factors if they are insufficient, or maybe giving some extra time for him to come up to acceptable levels to be eligible for an uneventful surgical procedure. Thanks and kind regards. Bain LE, MD