| One question, and one point for consideration. Qn: You wrote that "All the material around it was removed", but then you wrote "at the time we went to the clinics the spots were too small to take samples". This seems to suggest that you know having samples of it would be ideal (or you'd not have written the second statement) - but don't you have biopsy samples from the material was removed the first time? What did they show? --- For consideration, I'd strongly reconsider this position: "I understand taking them now might prove more helpful - but then, if it's an incurable cancer my wife is kind of reluctant to have another surgery just to find out what we are already pretty sure what it is..." Why? Well, three points: a) I suspect that the biopsies could be taken via a relatively minor surgery - maybe laparoscopically. If this is the case, it would be a short procedure with a short recovery... which could result in absolutely critical information being collected. b) obtaining biopsy samples of 'it' (whether it's a malignant tumor or not) is a hugely important step towards identification. If you can identify it, you're much closer to knowing how to treat it, or accessing relevant clinical trials, or putting your minds at rest. This could be life changing, or life-extending in a significant way. c) if it is a malignant tumor, there are now techniques that can be applied to the biopsy tissue which give insight into the nature of the mutations that drive it, and therefore could point you towards a treatment. Two examples are mentioned here: https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2017... --- (I have domain-relevant professional knowledge, but I'm not a liver cancer specialist - there's your caveat.) |
you need to get the biopsy now. it sounds like it hasn't metastasized, so there's a chance they could excise the whole thing, or she could get a transplant. if it has metastasized it might be game over.
get biopsies and labs first, then look for a second opinion. not the other way around.