I Am…More Than Liver Cancer
Did you know that more than 800,000 people are diagnosed with liver cancer globally each year?
Liver cancer doesn’t knock loudly at the door. It creeps in quietly, disguised as ordinary aches and nagging fatigue. A sore back, a stubborn stomach issue, spells of dizziness. None of these symptoms seemed urgent on their own. Only later did the pattern make sense.
I am someone who has faced treatment choices I never imagined: radioembolization with Y90, repeated bile-duct stent procedures, combinations like immunotherapy plus targeted therapy drugs, ablations, Cyberknife, and even new approaches like histotripsy. Each path has brought both hope and hardship.
Some of us felt wiped out for weeks after treatment. Others found remission somewhere along the line. We’ve all been helping each other navigate side effects. We are relieved by progress and discouraged by setbacks, sometimes in the very same month.
I am someone who has asked: Has anyone else had their cancer seem under control and then suddenly grow again? Has anyone else experienced sudden pain and fatigue? How do you handle it if your doctors disagree on the diagnosis? These are questions no lab test really answers. That’s why we turn to one another, to compare experiences and find clarity in the fog.
I am someone who has seen how fragile independence can feel. I want to drive myself to chemo or manage appointments alone, while loved ones push to be involved. Balancing privacy, pride, and practical help is its own challenge.
I am someone who has lived with fear of recurrence, even in remission. And I am someone who has celebrated good scans, good days, and small victories.
Liver cancer is not one story but many. If you are living with it—or caring for someone who is—you don’t have to go through it alone. In the Smart Patients liver cancer community, you’ll find others who have faced Y90, stents, immunotherapy, and the endless wait for scan results. You’ll find people who understand what the statistics don’t show: that you are not a number.
Be sure to visit our partner, the Global Cancer Institute for more resources and information.
We invite you to join the conversation.
Share your story, your questions, or simply listen in. Together, we are finding strength in connection: