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Suggest Treatment For Liver Cysts

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Posted on Sat, 4 Apr 2015
Question: Do simple liver cysts disappear ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (17 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No, it does not.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

No, it does not disappear. If its small cyst, there is also no need to do anything with it. Just to have it under control. Only large cysts (like 10cm) should be treated with surgery.
But for sure it can not disappear by its own.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (16 minutes later)
U see prob is my dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer nov 2013. There was no distant spread but an mri confirmed multiple simple liver cysts.

He then recently developed liver mets and 1 node
But the ct reports do not mention the cysts at all so i was wondering if they had gone?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (21 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Cancer cells have devour this cyst.

Detailed Answer:
When cancer grows in liver, it spreads without any control. There is no difference for cancer cells if they grow in liver cells or in cyst cells. So most likely cancer has literally devour the cyst. That is why there is no cyst in MRI seen.
It is also possible that what was thought to be a cyst, was a metastasis.

Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (14 minutes later)
The prob is there were multiple cyts and mri confirmed this.

I attach a januart ct scan and a
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (10 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
In the situation where liver has metastases, cyst are negligible.

Detailed Answer:
I can not see an scans attached. But why do you thunk about this cysts? As he has liver metastases, cysts, one or multiple are completely negligible for his health. Cysts are harmless. Metastases are harmful. So no need to think about cysts when mets are present.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (15 minutes later)
Ok. I just thought may be some these are cysts as mri confirmed cysts in 2013.

Please see attached reports . What percentage of liver u say is involved with tumors ?

Could some be the cysts?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (6 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
This metastases are not cysts for sure.

Detailed Answer:
This nodes are metastases for sure. No doubt in that. Cyst can be easily seen in CT (it does not absorb contrast) and can not be misdiagnosed as a metastases.
So it seems hardly possible that some of this metastases are cysts.
There is multiply metastases in the liver. Some are pretty large. I would say that a half of whole liver can be affected.
Chemotherapy and immunetherapy (Bewacyzumab) are a chance to prolong his life.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (10 minutes later)
Oh which immunotherapy is this?

Prob is irinorecan was given on october but obv did not work.

Does this mean chemo resistance?

Also a dr mentioned SIRT, can this be done on liver and improve survival?

What u think best type chemo?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (5 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
BEWACIZUMAB should be tried.

Detailed Answer:
Irinotecan is not immunotherapy. BEWACIZUMAB is immunotherapy. This is the best way to improve his survival. Ask your doctor about this medicine.
SIRT can be the possibility as well. It is worth to try.
Mets do not mean that there is chemo resistance. It just indicates ineffectiveness of given chemo.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (5 minutes later)
Well we have a very bas oncologist and are worried sick as irinotecan failed he said thats it no treatment and discharged him. No other chemo tried.

Then we got few other opinions n they thought chemo needed. There wS 1 liver met before only n a node but since dec no chemo so look whats happened now.

Would this drug b suitable if hes 67 and has had a previous non elevated std heart attack in 2013 ?

Would prognosis b good if sirt is done?

Also can if happen where no chemo works?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Immune therapy is suitable for him.

Detailed Answer:
Bewacyzumab is not a typical chemotherapy. This is a protein, antibody which specifically attacks cancer cells only. It does not affect healthy cells so there is no toxicity of this drug. The only disadvantage of this drug is its price.
It would be suitable for him as well.
SIRT is a good option as well. It can eliminate visible liver metastases. It can be done were chemo does not work.
You need to know that general prognosis in his case (stage IV) is poor. I am sorry telling you that, but this is the truth. This battle with cancer is to delay its progression and prolong your fathers life. But none of available methods wont cure him completely. Its only a matter of time.
But it is necessary to make everything that is possible to give him as much life as possible.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (6 minutes later)
So if hes had a heart attack and clots in lungs this is still ok?

I reac very good stories about the drug but i just got worried re the effects like hypertension, chest pain , bleeding etc.

With sirt also what can approx survival b like?

Some ppl with sirt and chemo are living years i read .
Would this drug work u think?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (6 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
The drug is worth to try.

Detailed Answer:
This drug can be used in case of heart problems and blood clot history. It can cause side effects like bleeding, hypertension etc. But it is still worth to try. Not every person has such side effects.
I can not give you exact numbers of his survival with or without SIRT. For sure it would be longer comparing to doing nothing.
He may live two years, maybe 3, some live 5. It is really very individual.
The drug is worth to try.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (7 minutes later)
Im thibking the same that if wana fight, worth trying as he may not even get these side effects.

It cant be any worse than doing nothing.generally he is quite fit.

So with sirt n chemo he could have atleast few years right or months

Can u just check the blood analysis i attached.

?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (12 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
At least few years is a very probable prognosis.

Detailed Answer:
I think with good and intense treatment he may have at leas few years in good general condition. Few months is way too short and it wont happen that fast for sure.
His blood work is acceptable. His kidneys and liver function is good, so he has strength to fight.
I hope he is on anticoagulants. His platelets are quite high. And cancer increases the risk of thrombosis.
As a conclusion: head up, start this fight, its too early to give up.

Hope this will help somehow.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Grzegorz Stanko

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 5795 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Liver Cysts

Brief Answer: No, it does not. Detailed Answer: Hello! Thank you for the query. No, it does not disappear. If its small cyst, there is also no need to do anything with it. Just to have it under control. Only large cysts (like 10cm) should be treated with surgery. But for sure it can not disappear by its own. Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions. Regards.