OpenHealth Q&A

Get answered by medical professionals

Seeking Guidance on Managing Liver Metastasis After Whipple Procedure

6/29/2025, 3:01:03 PMMale25-34

Greetings everyone, My mother is 62 years old and underwent a Whipple procedure in February. Unfortunately, her subsequent three-month chemotherapy treatment did not yield positive results, and she is now facing liver metastases. Her overall health has been concerning, which has led her doctors to suggest that she may not tolerate further chemotherapy. Despite this, she was feeling relatively well until recently, when she started experiencing pain in the area beneath her right rib cage over the past couple of days. I'm worried that the tumors might be proliferating in her liver and causing pressure on surrounding organs. We are feeling quite desperate as we search for solutions. For the past week, we have been administering Ivermectin at a dosage of 3 ml (30 mg) daily, along with a capsule of Fenbendazole (200 mg) each day. Additionally, she is consuming about a liter of homemade herbal teas and tinctures daily. We connected with a man in the mountains who has been crafting herbal teas for three decades, and he has provided us with liver-specific tinctures and teas. This is all we have for her treatment at this point. If anyone has any insights or advice regarding this situation, we would greatly appreciate your help and suggestions. Thank you all in advance for your assistance.

Crohn's DiseaseThyroid DisordersInternal Medicine

Answers (1)

Cony

6/29/2025, 3:01:37 PM

OpenHealth AI

I'm truly sorry to hear about your mother's situation. Managing liver metastasis, especially following a significant surgical procedure like the Whipple, can be incredibly challenging and emotional. It’s understandable that you’re feeling desperate for solutions.

Main Points:

  1. Awareness of her symptoms and their potential implications.
  2. Seeking appropriate medical guidance instead of relying solely on alternative therapies.
  3. Importance of pain management and supportive care.

Explanation: Liver metastasis occurs when cancer cells spread to the liver from another part of the body. After a Whipple procedure, it is not uncommon for patients to experience further complications. The pain under the right rib cage might be due to the liver being stretched by tumors or other complications, such as fluid accumulation or bile duct issues.

While the desire to explore alternative therapies, like herbal teas or supplements, is understandable, it’s crucial to approach these carefully. Ivermectin and Fenbendazole are not standard treatments for cancer, and their effectiveness in this context is not supported by significant scientific evidence. Relying solely on these alternatives may lead to delays in receiving potentially beneficial medical treatments.

Next Steps:

  1. Monitor Symptoms: Keep a close watch on her pain levels and any other symptoms, such as changes in appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the skin), or significant weight loss. Note any increases in pain or new symptoms.

  2. Consult Healthcare Professionals: It’s vital to communicate with her healthcare team about her recent symptoms, including the pain she is experiencing. They may offer pain management options or conduct further imaging studies to assess the liver and surrounding areas. Open discussions about her care options, which might include palliative care or supportive treatments, are essential.

  3. Research Evidence-Based Treatments: While exploring herbal remedies is your choice, I encourage prioritizing evidence-based approaches. If chemotherapy isn’t tolerable, inquire about clinical trials or newer treatments, such as targeted therapies or immunotherapy, that may improve her quality of life.

  4. Focus on Comfort and Quality of Life: Engage in supportive care practices, which may include nutrition management, physical comfort, and emotional support. Enlist the help of hospice or palliative care services, which can provide comprehensive support in managing symptoms and improving her quality of life.

Please take care of yourselves during this tough time. If you need more specific information or have further concerns, feel free to reach out.

Related Questions

Swelling Beneath My Chin Near the Jawline

18-Year-Old Male: I'm reaching out to any medical professionals who might provide insights into my situation. I've been using marijuana since I was 14, but now, at 17, I'm making an effort to stop and have been clean for 18 days. Recently, I've discovered an unusual swelling located just beneath my chin, behind my jaw. It causes some discomfort when I move, yet it doesn’t feel painful continuously. I'm somewhat anxious that this could be indicative of a more serious issue, especially considering it's positioned near my chin's lymph nodes. Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated as it might help alleviate my worry.

ArthritisLupusInternal Medicine
Male25-34
5 minutes ago

Challenges with Appetite and Discomfort While Eating — Difficulty in Gaining Weight

As an 18-year-old male, I find that I become satisfied after consuming rather minimal amounts of food. This situation presents a considerable challenge, particularly since I only need to have a standard breakfast, lunch, or dinner to feel completely satiated for the remainder of the day. My goal of increasing my weight has made this issue even more complicated. When I limit myself to one meal per day, I often face weight loss or an uncomfortable sensation of fullness that leaves me feeling sluggish. Opting for two meals makes me feel excessively bloated, distracting me from my daily responsibilities. Moreover, I suffer from an unusual issue with my throat, where almost any food I consume causes discomfort, as detailed in the list below. I have contemplated focusing on having just lunch while continuing my weightlifting regimen to maintain my current weight and gradually build muscle. What advice could you offer? Could there be an underlying cause for these symptoms? Lastly, would it be wise for me to consult a healthcare professional? Foods That Cause Discomfort: Bread, flour, pizza, fruits, sugary or starchy items, seed oils, chips, and essentially everything else. Foods That Are Tolerable: Rice, salads, chicken, fish, and vegetables. Overall Symptoms Include: * Quick satiety after normal meals * Challenges in gaining weight * Bloated and lethargic sensations when consuming more than one meal * Persistent throat sensitivity to a wide variety of foods

Thyroid DisordersInternal MedicineEndocrinology
Male25-34
15 minutes ago

Should I Seek Medical Attention for Left Ear Pulsatile Tinnitus?

A 31-year-old woman reports an ongoing issue with pulsatile tinnitus, which she is currently experiencing solely in her left ear. Although she's noticed this condition intermittently before, she hadn’t paid it much mind due to the absence of pain. Recently, however, her curiosity piqued her interest in researching the condition, where she stumbled upon information suggesting it could be serious. Usually, she avoids searching online for health worries, but now she is contemplating whether a visit to the doctor might be warranted. Can anyone advise on the need for a medical evaluation in this case?

LupusThyroid DisordersInternal Medicine
Male25-34
55 minutes ago

Concerns About Angular Cheilitis

I’m a 23-year-old woman with no history of smoking, and I’m seeking assistance regarding a health issue. Back in January, I experienced angular cheilitis three times, each episode involving a minor crack at the corner of my mouth that healed within a few days. Following the last occurrence, I became quite anxious due to saliva accumulation in that area. I found myself frequently brushing my finger along that spot. After a few days, I observed a small area forming that appeared white and had a rough texture. Eventually, I realized it was not just a coincidence, and I started taking action, but only after it became noticeably larger. To address it, I cleaned the area with a mix of alcohol and apple cider vinegar. I’m uncertain about what this issue could be, but I’ve recently begun using over-the-counter Clotrimazole cream while also keeping the area moisturized with either lanolin or petroleum jelly. Unfortunately, I haven’t noticed any improvement, and I’m concerned as it seems to be expanding. The patch continues to be rough and excessively dry. Although I can open my mouth wide without any cracks forming, I do feel tension in the skin, similar to having a bandage over that location. At times, I experience a burning sensation after thorough washing, and I’ve noticed tiny red spots appearing on the outer edges of the patch sporadically.

LupusInternal MedicineEndocrinology
Male25-34
1 hour ago

Unusual Heart Sensation

I’m an 18-year-old, weighing 50 kilograms and standing at 170 centimeters (and yes, I’m aware that I’m quite slender). For the past couple of years, I’ve developed a habit of smoking about half a pack of cigarettes each day. So, the other day I was lying on my left side, relaxing, when I stumbled upon an unusual sensation. It felt as though my heart was pulsating so intensely that it was almost outside my body. Out of curiosity, I pressed a bit on the area and was instantly hit with a rush; my head started to tingle, my vision momentarily blurred, and it felt as though my heart dropped. It was as if my entire system had malfunctioned. Just for context, I’ve experienced something similar before after a ketamine overdose, and it persisted for about a month afterward, occurring occasionally while trying to sleep or during random moments in bed. This current episode has me quite anxious, especially since it hasn’t happened in a while, but this time felt particularly alarming.

Multiple SclerosisCOPDInternal Medicine
Male25-34
1 hour ago