Liver cancer

[John Brooks]

I have recently been diagnosed with Liver cancer with a prognosis of 6 months.

I have noted that my Blood Sugar levels have risen, although not too high at the moment.

After some research it appears that the Liver is responsible releasing some insulin but with cancer this is not done so well.

I am assuming that this is the reason for the rise in my Blood Sugar levels.

Does anyone have any comments please?

 

[Pipp]

Hello, @John Brooks .
Sorry that you are having to deal with this diagnosis.
I haven’t heard of any research to suggest the liver releases insulin. My understanding is that it is the pancreas that does that. Though if you have some info regarding your reading I would gladly educate myself, better.

I am wondering if you have had chemotherapy? That can sometimes cause raised blood glucose, as can being ill, generally.

Are your raised levels after food? I imagine there will have been changes to your diet, or appetite?

Sorry to provide more questions than answers. Hope you are keeping pain free, and having support of a good palliative care team, and have decent quality of life.

 

[KennyA]

Hi - what might be happening, assuming that your diet and other factors haven't changed, is that your liver is making and releasing more glucose, as that is the normal response of our livers to us having an illness.

It's probable that as your glucose levels rise, your system will respond by releasing more insulin from the pancreas, to allow you to make use of the additional glucose fuel. If you had more insulin without the extra glucose, it would be more probable that your blood glucose levels would fall.

So you could have elevated levels of both glucose and insulin - easy enough to test for glucose, but more complicated to establish insulin levels.

 

[John Brooks]

Thank you for your replies.

I agree it is the Pancreas that provides the insulin but on further research it shows that I was incorrect about that, Liver cancer can elevate sugar levels in the Liver.

My story does not make good reading.

Apparently a 'subtle' carcinoma was found on one of my CT Scans in 2024, possibly up to a year ago but is was not reported by the Radiographer and it was not picked up by my Hepatology Consultant.

I was eventually informed on 18 Mar 2025 that I have Liver cancer and because it has grown and escaped from my liver there is no treatment they can use to either reduce the size or give me extra time. My prognosis is 6 months, which I have used 7 weeks of.

I have had several CT and MRI Scans since that scan that showed up the cancer so I cannot understand why it was not picked up earlier because every scan I had MUST have shown the carcinoma growing to the size it was when I was told about it on March 18th.

As far as help from the Hepatology department is concerned | have heard absolutely NOTHING, although Macmillan's have been a Godsend.

Prior to my being diagnosed with cancer I was told that I was suffering from
Psoriasis which may have been responsible for either giving me the cancer or contributing to it due to my being prescribed Metformin. The dosage I had to take was high, 850mg twice a day

It was suggested that I go on to Insulin but at first I would not but with hindsight if I had started taking Insulin much earlier and stopped the Metformin it may have stopped me getting the cancer.

Needless to say I have a great many questions I wish answered and I have put forward a complaint to PALS and Healthwatch has taken up my case.

I have also requested a 2nd opinion.

Everything is now in the lap of the Gods.

There is a plus, goodness how long I have had this cancer but thank the Lord so far because I have no effects of the cancer so far.

As it stands my wife and I have booked to to go to the Isle of Wight on 19 May 25 and I intend to have a wonderful time.

My niece has also invited me to her home for Christmas and I have accepted. I am intending to be around for my Christmas Dinner

 

[Lakeslover]

Just one other thing, if you have been prescribed oral steroids for any reason they can also increase your blood sugar.

 

[AndBreathe]

Oh dear @John Brooks . That's a pretty rubbish turn of events you have experienced.

In terms of metformin being associated with liver cancer, a modest amount of research suggests the opposite, but of course that doesn't alter your predicament.

Have you raised a complaint about your journey to diagnosis? Whilst that won't alter your diagnosis, it will make them focus and ask the questions you have no answers for (like why was the early presence not reported)?

I can appreciate that you might prefer to spend your time doing things you enjoy with the people you love, but it's just a thought.

In the meantime, I wish you all the best and for a protracted time of good quality of life.

 

[John Brooks]

For Lakeslover.

I have to take a total of 27 medications per day made up of oral, suppositories or liquid. But none of them are steroid based.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

I have recently been diagnosed with Liver cancer with a prognosis of 6 months.

I have noted that my Blood Sugar levels have risen, although not too high at the moment.

After some research it appears that the Liver is responsible releasing some insulin but with cancer this is not done so well.

I am assuming that this is the reason for the rise in my Blood Sugar levels.

Does anyone have any comments please?

Just want to say I'm sorry about the mess they made of your case, and the prognosis... I hope you'll see Christmas and far beyond that.
Hugs,
Jo

 

[John Brooks]

For JoKalsbeek.

Thank you for your kind words they were extremely appreciated.

I'm thinking about what I want Father Christmas to bring me already (Lol)

 

[Pipp]

@John Brooks: Posts on the forum need to be based on personal experience or reputable sources. We sympathise with you for your current health problems. However we are concerned that you say

“....Psoriasis which may have been responsible for either giving me the cancer or contributing to it due to my being prescribed Metformin. “

and

"... if I had started taking Insulin much earlier and stopped the Metformin it may have stopped me getting the cancer."

We cannot find any research evidence to support these statements. In contrast there is evidence that Metformin is useful against some cancers.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8065978/

This says

The good results obtained with metformin as the first-line treatment of type 2 diabetes have led to its successful use in many other conditions, such as cancer (breast, endometrial, colorectal, prostate, various other tumors), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic kidney disease, metabolic syndrome, obesity, coronary artery disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, and acne. It also has anti-aging effects and improves the efficiency of in vitro fertilization; some studies have demonstrated the benefits of metformin in patients with psoriasis.

If you have evidence supporting what you say please do post it in this thread.

We fully understand that this is a difficult time for you, and hope you can find support and answers from the PALS team, and Macmillan, that give some sort of satisfaction. Also that you enjoy your upcoming Isle of Wight holiday.