My husband has Hep C (for over 25 years) and cirrhosis of the liver. In February he had an ultrasound that showed lesions so a MRI was ordered. That didn't give definitive results so a CT was ordered. The results showed a Hepatocellular carcinoma about 2.5 cm. We are waiting for our HMO to approve a visit to the Liver surgeon. In all that I've read about Hepatocellular carcinoma, it seems to progress quickly and give just months to live without treatment. Did we waist 6 months of treatment getting test results from the time of the ultrasound in February to now waiting for a dr appointment. Since he has cirrhosis, does that mean he can't have the tumor removed? Does this disease progress so quickly that a T1 tumor could turn to stage 4 in 6 months? He has had several fevers over the months for no apparent reason, his edema is pretty sever (he doesn't have the ascites but his legs are like tree trunks even on 2 types of water pills). Should I be screaming at the HMO to approve the referral because the waiting is killing my husband? The not knowing is driving us crazy.