did you look at the site of the National Cancer Institute,
http://www.cancer.gov/cancer_information/cancer_type/liver/ or OncoLink
http://www.oncolink.org/types/article.cfm?c=5&s=15&ss=113&id=1738

You say yourself that the effects can vary by individual. No book or article
is going to tell you how any one person will go.
 Instead of looking under primary liver cancer you should check out liver
failure generally because that is what is going to happen as the tumour
grows and spreads within the liver.
In the very early stages there may not be much in the way of symptoms,
possibly just a general malaise.
 There is probably going to be some nausea, certainly loss of appetite and
as the liver swells and stretches the surrounding capsule there is likely o
be a fairly constant dull ache with occasional sharp severe pain as it gives
slightly  or small blood vessels bleed into it.
 The pain almost always responds well to analgesia and will probably not
present much of a problem.
 Changes in the blood will probably cause some fluid to collect in the
lower limbs (oedema) and abdomen (ascites) as well as reduced clotting
ability and jaundice in the later stages.
 Whether the tumour is primary or secondary makes no difference. Cirrhosis
from alcohol abuse or hepatitis, toxicity from paracetamol (acetomenaphen)
and other drugs or obstruction of the bile duct from outside causes will all
essentially do the same thing if untreated.
 how well or not primary liver cancer responds to treatments is a question
for others but certainly the longer it has been there the (much) less likely
it will have any benefit.
MIKE

Hello Connor,
I'm very sorry to hear about your father-in-law.

You sound very frustrated. I'm glad you found us.
You are correct, most cancer centres, societies, web sites focus on the
treatment angle.
To not do so, would perhaps be depressing/discouraging for those (with cancer)
who are treatable.

I see that the website that Jan posted says the following "Untreated patients
usually die in 3-4months".
That seemed to be true of a chap that I tried to help in his father's case (some
years ago on this newsgroup).
He was diagnosed in May and was awaiting referral to a cancer centre nearby here
to discuss treatment options.. and his son was frustrated at the wait.  In the
meantime, he got jaundice and went into liver failure and died.  (all within 3
months).

I suppose some depends on other health issues also.  A younger man with no heart
condition, no diabetes and small tumour(s) might vary slightly from an older man
with a heart condition, and/or with heavy liver involvement on diagnosis
(cirrhosis), could slip away faster or even surprise everyone by passing away
from an undiagnosed heart condition or infection or pneumonia.  All this to say,
(since he wants to die at home), your next move is to make sure that:

1) all his affairs are in order
There's some lists here (the last 2 sections)
http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/advancedcancer
the tough issues are discussed there including section 5  - the "Choices for
Care" sections about living will, DNR, Power of attorney of care, funeral etc.
He may have signed a power of attorney of care at a cancer centre, but hospice
(below) might want to revisit that with him and family, to make sure most issues
have been put on paper. This relieves the carers of the burden of not knowing
which choice to make, as events occur.

2) You contact a palliative care service as soon as possible. (Hospice) - (maybe
in the yellow pages of your phone book or through the social services department
of your local cancer centre or general hospital). Hospice does come to the home
and along with caring for your father-in-law can be a tremendous source of
support for the carers and family members.

What you want is for your father-in-law not to suffer needlessly. Hospice is
excellent at that.  Even if someone at home has nursing-type experience, pain
prescribing, medicating and tweaking requires an expert.  Do not leave it in his
doctor's hands, because some medications might be beyond what (s)he is permitted
to prescribe.

Mike's an expert in palliative care in Australia, so he knows what he's talking
about.
.
We also currently have several "main carers" on the newsgroup.

If I can be of assist on any Ontario or Cdn issues, post anytime.

We can be here for you (or any member of your family) during the next difficult
months, on an ongoing and day-day basis.. and we will help you in any way that
we can whether it's practical issues, listening, caring.
Best,
J

Hi Michelle,

I am sorry to hear about your father-in-law. I am a cancer survivor.
Actually I am a chemo survivor.

I came very close to beating the cancer by natural means. It was the chemo
that almost killed me.

I can understand why your father-in-law is refusing treatment. Although this
is not a direct answer

to your I hope this will help. If I might be so bold as to say it 's not
near as important to know the the effects

as it might be to have some info on how how to help him. If he is not going
to do anything there is

a compound called hydrazine-sulphate that may bring some releif. Just type
it into any search engine

to find out more info.

Having been through this myself I am working hard to cancer proof my body.
If your father-in -law or

anyone else may be interested here is a web-site that may be helpful
http://www.2ndchance4me.com/cash.html.

Here are a few more urls that you might find helpful
http://www.goodbye2cancer.co.uk/
http://www.cancer-coverup.com/story/default.html
http://www.cancerchoices.com/apricot.htm

My best wishes,
Doug