Help Stacy - Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma (FHC)

Please help our dear friend Stacy

Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Useful Websites

A wonderful non-profit organization that acts as a resource for information and support to those with FHC.
www.deliveracure.org

Oncologist endorsed site for Liver Cancer Information and Resources.
www.caringforcancer.com

Official site for the American Cancer Society

www.cancer.org

As you can see Stacy is a beautiful girl.But her beauty isn't only skin deep. She is caring, funny, selfless, sweet, and she is my hero. She could teach a lesson to all of us about bravery and courage in the face of adversity.

Her smile still shines as bright as always and brings cheerfulness to all who see it. So please give back to her what she has given to so many others. Whether it is a financial donation, or simply your thoughts and prayers, it will be much appreciated.

Stacy's Story

As most of you know by now, our dear friend Stacy F has been diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer called Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma, or FHC. There are only 200 people IN THE WORLD diagnosed with FHC every year. In July of 2006, Dr. Imagawa and Dr. Nguyen (both from UC Irvine Medical Center) removed 60% of her liver as well as her gallbladder. Unfortunately, the cancer had already spread to 2 of her 4 surrounding lymph nodes. Stacy was told immediately after surgery that she would have to undergo chemotherapy.

Dr. Imagawa was 100% sure this cancer would come back unless Stacy tried some other (new) form of chemo called Nexavar (it was FDA approved for advanced kidney cancer in December, 2005). It hasn't been FDA approved yet for liver cancer, but it is on the fast track for approval. Regular chemotherapy is only 14% effective on liver cancer and there is NOT ONE oncologist in Orange County who knows anything about Stacy's rare cancer. Dr. Imagawa advised her to go to UCLA Medical Center where they have an entire Liver Cancer Center.

In October (after much struggle with her insurance), Stacy went to UCLA Medical Center where Dr. Finn also recommended she start taking Nexavar and perscribed it. Dr. Finn also mentioned that by just the size of her tumor alone (9cm x 8cm) they could assume that it had already spread. Surprisingly, Blue Cross approved it and she started taking the Nexavar in October.

Blue Cross had denied Stacy's appeals to be see by Dr. Finn for follow-up visits until finally, in late December of 2006, her medical group approved office visits at UCLA with her oncologist, Dr. Finn. Blue Cross won't allow her to get any scans or medical procedures done there because it is out of her medical group's "Network".

Stacy completed five months on Nexavar, which is a daily pill form of chemotherapy. The side effects were unimagineable and extremely painful; first was the rash covering her entire body like "chicken pox times one thousand" it itched and was painful. Stacy was told it was her body adjusting to the full dose of the Nexavar (they usually start people on a half dose, but Stacy should have started the chemo 30 days after surgery - not three months). Second was "Hand and Foot Syndrome" ; she had painful blisters covering her hands and feet. Some blisters were the size of half dollars, others were two inches long. These blisters made walking or basically doing anything impossible. Stacy had to stop treatment many times because of side effects, Dr. Finn even had to cut her dosage in half in January. Her hair has thinned out and she lost about 60-75% of the hair on her head.

Stacy had a CT scan the end of August, 2007. They discovered a mass just below her right lung and wanted to remove it right away. She had surgey a week ago and is still in much pain. Her surgeon hasn't received the pathology report yet so we aren't 100% sure the mass is cancerous. Stacy's oncologist and surgeon are guessing it is a recurance of her cancer. The surgeon said he thought the mass was a lymph-node, which the cancer HAD spread to her surrounding lymph-nodes when they discovered it. If it is malignant, which it most likely is, she will undergo radiation for a few days then back on the Nexavar. Hopefully, it won't be the full dosage like last time so it won't be as harsh!
Guest Book Please click here to visit the guestbook to send Stacy your thoughts and prayers. She LOVES getting these messages and reads them every day. Whether you are a friend, a stranger or a fellow cancer-survivor, please share your stories and experiences.

Donations.
Although Stacy is recovering well from surgery and treatment, she has a long difficult road ahead of her. Our hope is that Stacy may rest easier knowing there will be additional support and donations from those who wish her well. If you would like to make a donation please feel free to donate online by credit card. Online payments are secure and processed by Paypal. You do not need a paypal account to pay, simply push "click here" under the login area.   Feel free to email farneyncali@msn.com   with any questions or comments that you would like sent to Stacy. Please help a friend in need, whether it is a large donation, or just five dollars, it will be much appreciated. Thank you to all who have sent donations and letters of encouragement.

Go Daddy