Hi Justice1

I also have an indeterminate liver lesion, mine was also picked up by an ultrasound following blood tests for another issue, all of my bloods were within range apart from my ALP liver reading.  I have had a ct scan and also an mri scan, but they are still not able to be sure whether it is benign or malignant.  Mine is very large (11cm x 6cm x 6cm) and close to the main blood supply into my liver, so after a mdt meeting they have decided to go straight to surgery to remove it and will then test it to hopefully confirm it is benign.

From what I can gather lesions are very common on the liver, usually a ct and mri can confirm if they are malignant or not. It is good that your partner is fit and well and good blood results.  From what I read on the subject it is quite unusual for primary liver cancer to occur unless the patient has had history of heavy alcohol use or has very advanced liver disease, which would normally cause their bloods to be alot higher.  That is what is keeping me sane at the moment, staying hopeful that it be ok!

The waiting for scans and results is tough, try to keep busy and not get too worried. 

All the best

Annie

Dear Annie,

Thank you so much for your kind response and I am really sorry to hear about your own struggles. I truly hope the further investigation will rule out the malignancy. I agree,the uncertainty makes it really hard to cope. I am an over thinker and my mind takes me to very dark places. Your message gave me some hope and I wish you all the best.Please keep me posted once you have some answers.

Hopefully your partner should get some answers next week at the consultation.  I found 'The British Liver Trust' quite a good resource for getting information, without scaring yourself to death with 'Dr Google'!

I have my pre-op assessment next week and should be in for surgery with the next couple of weeks.  Unfortunately it has to be open surgery not keyhole, so I will have a fair old recovery ahead of me.  Its crazy to think its in there, I have absolutely no symptoms whatsoever, so I just class myself very lucky that it has been found!

Good luck with the scans and consultation.  Try not to over think, this can unfortunately take a long time to get the answers.  I think to myself that until someone tells me otherwise, this is benign!  You can end up driving yourself mad otherwise.  My ultrasound was on 22nd May so you can see how long these things can take.

Thank you for your advice, I am aware I should change my mind set or try to distract myself. Hopefully we will have some answers soon. We are also considering private consultations but from what we have seen so far it doesn’t seem the things are moving much faster. Good luck with your surgery and I am wishing you a quick recovery. All the best.

Hi Justice1

Hope that you are holding up ok, did your partner get any news from the consultation on the 24th?  I am hoping that it was good news and hopefully benign.

I had my pre-op on thursday and have been deemed fit for surgery, which should be in the next 2-3 weeks.

I'm keeping everything crossed for you!

Best wishes

Annie

Hi Annie,

Thank you so much for thinking of me.

Well,the appointment on 24th got cancelled. In the meantime they put an MRI with contrast forward and we are currently waiting for the results. Also yesterday we received a letter to make some blood tests,which will happen tomorrow. The waiting is just driving me insane. Over the last week I was relatively positive given the circumstances ,but today wasn’t a good day and I couldn’t stop crying. I keep everything crossed for you as well. Hopefully your surgery will go smoothly and I am wishing you a very quick recovery.

Hi Annie,

Thank you so much for thinking of me.

Well,the appointment on 24th got cancelled. In the meantime they put an MRI with contrast forward and we are currently waiting for the results. Also yesterday we received a letter to make some blood tests,which will happen tomorrow. The waiting is just driving me insane. Over the last week I was relatively positive given the circumstances ,but today wasn’t a good day and I couldn’t stop crying. I keep everything crossed for you as well. Hopefully your surgery will go smoothly and I am wishing you a very quick recovery.

Oh I am sorry to here that the consultation got cancelled, however at least the mri scan has been done and they are doing more bloods.  Hopefully when you do get the consultation, they will hopefully have the full facts in front of them to tell you what is going on.

Sometimes we need to have a good cry and release the pressure before we can pick ourselves up and carry on.  I hope that your partner is coping with the waiting ok.  I sometimes think that it is harder for the loved ones, feeling helpless, I know that my husband is really struggling with the not knowing.  I am doing lots of walking at the moment to ensure my heart and lungs are ok for the op, I am dragging hubby out with me, I am finding that the exercise is really helping both of our moods.

I keep everything crossed for you that you get good news when you get the results.  Please let me know how it goes, its also good for anyone searching the forum at a later date for answers to have a conclusion to our stories.

Best wishes

Annie

Hi Annie,

We are also doing a lot of walking lately,it seems to be the only thing that helps us to lower slightly the tension. Waiting doesn’t help,especially given that I am an over thinker. My partner is also struggling but I guess I am more expressive in terms of showing how I feel. I will send an update once we have more knowledge, please also keep me posted. All the best! I will be thinking of you.

Justyna

Hi Justyna

How are things going with you and your partner, any news on mri results and a consultation?

I am now 11 days post-op and doing well, tumor and central wedge of liver removed,  in quite a bit of discomfort when moving around, but also getting lots of rest.

I wont get my results on whether the tumor was benign or cancerous for another 4 weeks, so I am just carrying on with belief that its benign, time will tell.

Really keeping fingers crossed that you are a bit further forward, with some anwers.

All the best

Annie

Dear Annie,

Apologies for the late response,we had to chase some of the results to get all the answers.Luckily it turned out to be a liver hemangioma, in fact there are several of them, but they are all benign and no further treatment is required. We are surprised as one of them is actually big (4cm), but I must admit it’s a huge relief. Also ALT level is not elevated anymore. I truly hope your tumour is also benign and fingers crossed for your smooth and speedy recovery. I know that the waiting is tough but hopefully you will get your answers soon. Please keep me posted and take care of yourself.

All the best!

Justyna

Oh that is fantastic news, I am so pleased for you both!

You can finally relax and both get on with living your lives again, without the worry hanging over you.

All the best

Annie

Hello Annie,

How are you? How is your recovery going?

I am thinking about you and truly hope you got your answers and it was also a positive outcome. 

All the best.

Justyna

Hi Justyna

I am plodding along thanks, still cannot believe how sore I am inside.  I am 4 weeks post-op today, hubby says that I have improved alot, I guess I am just impatient.  However, I dont think that anything is wrong, it just takes time to heal, I was told it could be 3 months before I recover fully.

Still no news whether it was malignant or benign, I am waiting for my follow up appointment (they did say between 4-6 weeks).  However, I am still fairly upbeat and quite confident it will be ok.  The main thing is that it has been removed, even if it turns out to be cancer, for a primary tumor that is the desired first treatment if possible.

Now, as happy as I am that you have checked in on me, you need to be enjoying your lives now that you dont have that worry hanging over you, not checking into a cancer forum!  :-)

Go and have some fun!

All the best

Annie

Hi Justyna

Just a quick update for you and anyone that may look at this thread in the future, looking for answers and hope regarding liver tumours / lesions. 

After a very long 8 weeks after surgery, I have just had my results that my tumour was also a benign one!

So I can also breathe again and move forward with my life too.

All the best for you and your partner.

Annie

Dear Annie,

I am so happy to read your update, it’s been a long way! It must have been such a relief after so many months of waiting.

Now you can finally think of other things, I bet your husband is also extremely happy with the outcome.

Wishing you all the best and thank you so much for being a great support for me, your words of wisdom helped me a lot in my darkest days.

Justyna

Thx to both of you for your updates. It has given me reason to hope. I have just started a similar process here in Canada.  CT scan in late Feb implied simple cyst. Ultrasound this week in March declared it solid and lobed though, so I'm waiting in an MRI now to try and figure out what i have, as it doesn't fit neatly into any box.,  I will try the "assume its benign until told otherwise" and start walking more. Hoping for the best.