Patient Success Stories

Frederick Man’s Inoperable Liver Cancer Successfully Treated with Selective Internal Radiation Therapy

Diagnosed with carcinoid tumor that later spread to his liver, Brian Williar researched his treatment options and came to the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center in 2005 for a revolutionary treatment known as SIR-Spheres. A type of Selective Internal Radition Therapy (SIRT), SIR-Spheres is part of a comprehensive Liver-Directed Therapies Program at UMGCC, offering a variety of advanced treatment options for liver cancer.

Brian Williar on a camping trip with his wife, Renee, and younger son, Liam.

In December of 2001, I was living a normal life. I was a commander with the Frederick County (Maryland) Sheriff's Office and close to retirement. One evening in that December, my son Jamison and I were horsing around as his brothers and I have done since they were very young.

The next day, I noticed that my right side hurt. I didn’t pay much attention to it just thinking that it was just the aches and pains that a 46-year-old man gets when wrestling around with a 20 year old. After several days, I realized that the pain was not subsiding and decided that a visit to my family doctor (Dr. Casper Cline, Frederick, MD) was in order. After explaining to him what happened, he recommended a CT scan. The results of that showed a mass consistent with a tumor on my right kidney. My life changed forever at that point. Within two days, I was undergoing surgery and having my right kidney removed.

My original diagnosis was renal cell cancer. That diagnosis was changed some months later to that of carcinoid cancer. If a sigh of relief can be breathed with a cancer diagnosis, it was breathed that day. Carcinoid is a very slow growing and a usually non-aggressive cancer.

Regular checks with my oncologist (Dr. Elhamy Eskander, Frederick, MD) soon revealed that the cancer was spreading. The most worrisome area was my liver. At this point in my disease process, I decided to visit Dr. Richard Warner in New York City. Dr. Warner is recognized as an expert in the treatment of carcinoid. He first recommended a chemotherapy treatment consisting of two orally administered drugs. This treatment proved to be unsuccessful. After viewing a second set of films of my liver, Dr. Warner then recommended that I be treated with SIR-Spheres. There were so many tumors found in my liver that surgery was not an option. I made the decision to retire at that time in order to dedicate the time needed for my health.

I searched the Internet and found that the SIR-Spheres treatment was being offered at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center (UMGCC), and that a lot of early research into this treatment had occurred there. This was very encouraging, so in July 2005, I made my first contact with Syed Abbas, SIR-Spheres clinical coordinator in the Department of Radiation Oncology at UMGCC.

He made an appointment for me to see Dr. Michael Garofalo, assistant professor of Radiation Oncology and Dr. David Widlus, associate professor of Interventional Radiology. Both appointments went well, and the process was begun to prepare for the SIR-Spheres treatment. During this time, and both during and after the treatment, I remained in constant contact with Syed Abbas. He was very helpful the entire time, answering my many questions and coordinating my visits for tests and follow-up appointments.

I received my first treatment in October 2005, to the right lobe of my liver and the second to the left lobe in December 2005. The treatments were very successful. A very marked difference was seen in pre-treatment scans as compared to post-treatment scans. The treatment made me very weak and feverish for three to four weeks, but with a lot of rest, support from my wife and a positive attitude, we got through it. Of course, by the time that I was feeling better after my first treatment, it was time to have the second one done. Considering the alternative to this treatment, the time spent feeling bad was worth it.

Again, I must say that during the time after the treatments when I was not feeling well, Syed Abbas was very, very attentive. He called me at home several times and took calls from me more times than I can count. He remained very patient with me and was most helpful. The cancer center should consider itself very fortunate to have someone of his caliber on its staff.

I still see my oncologist regularly and am being considered for treatment of other areas where this cancer has metastasized, but the most dangerous area has been taken care of for now. I feel much better knowing that the treatment was successful and can enjoy life more. We are a family that enjoys traveling and camping in our RV and have plans to do so often in the years to come. I feel very fortunate to be able to spend more time with my family and my new grandchildren.

For more information on SIR-Spheres, our Liver-Directed Therapies Program, or other cutting-edge cancer treatment options available at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, please call 1-800-888-8823.


This page was last updated on: January 24, 2007.