How are people with liver mets doing?
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Shetland,
Lollll you are not the only one, we all have the same problem . Sleep deprivation will do a lot , plus all the meds we have been on since all this started. Chemo is the worst add to it the fact that you have no hormones to speak of in yourentire body. Unless you symptoms are accompanied by headaches and blurred vision then there is nothing to worry about . Itis just the SEs of all the meds we are on.
But i do things to help me get my memory better. I downloaded apps like peak and lumisoty on my Ipad and it has all sort of brain excersices to boost memeory, focus, mental agility , problem solving , emotions. It is not bad it helps you stay more focused. Anti hormones and cancer treatments tend to give us an inside body of an 80years old with the look of our age lollll this is terrible. So chronlogically we are old but not actually.
So do not worry you are the only one, we are all in the same boat . Missed you on the boards.
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Artist,
I am well so far , i was wondering how you are and how is faslodex treating you. Hugs.
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Holeinone, about the sensitive head and the wig. My scalp is still sensitive over a year PFC. If the wind blows my hair, I feel it. I looked at my wig shopping notes, and they say that the most comfortable kind of wig cap is monofilament--smooth and cool. It also gives the hair realistic movement. And yes, a good hairdresser can work wonders. My wig looked ridiculous until I got it cut, and then it looked pretty good. (I only wore it a few times because I found I preferred pre-tied scarves and caps.)
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Woody, yes, I tell the physical therapist (frozen shoulder, almost all better) to treat me like he would an eighty-year-old woman. People used to think I was at least five years younger than I am, but I doubt they think that any more. The treatments wear us down. I think my face looks so tired. One of my doctors (not for oncology) wanted to send me for a brain scan because I couldn't remember another doctor's name, and I was having trouble following what he said, and taking notes. I told him it's just the drugs and the insomnia. I had to decide to be patient and kind to myself, and try not to get frustrated when I can't remember a name or something. Oddly, I seem to do fine remembering choreography. It's almost as if the deficits in some areas have freed up other areas.
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true i seem to do better also in some arease not others memory is fine but i do not seem to remember words vocabulory and things like that . It takes me a while to remember , i have to use ruse on my brain to remember. Coordination in the body is slower also. The worst though is lack of sleep . I take two kind of pills to get few hours of sleep and both cause memory lapses. But without them i do not sleep at all. Nothing works. I try to rest in the afternoons , not sleep just rest. We have to work around it and do the best we can aslong as we are alive. I accepted this fact a long time ago life after cancer will never be the same but i am thankful i am alive and as functional as possible. I don't think about all this anymore it will only frustrate me lolll. I would rather not be feeling all this.
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Hi all! I have a plan now...
Having an MRI next Wed of my liver per my rad onc suggestion(he believes he can do Cyberknife to that spot as well as the pituitary gland)
Start Herceptin and Perjeta on Thursday the 19th
Have Cyberknife of pituitary gland on Friday the 20th(5 days/30 minutes each time)
Start Taxotere, Herceptin, Perjeta on June 9th( MO didn't want to add the T during radiation)
He did mention starting Zometa for the small bone spot but after radiation as well.
I will start on an AI at some point as well, was on Anastrazole so will switch to something else.
Kathy
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Kathy that's great!
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I have a question about targeted therapy to the liver...I'm not getting a lot of info when I ask my MO...is it because I have 3 involved lymph nodes? I was hoping that targeted therapy would be an option if chemo clears those lymph nodes or if those can be removed as they do with the axillary ones...?
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Gramen,
Hereceptin/ perjeta are targetted therapies. If you meant by targetted, invasive procedures, usually very rarely liver mets are operable. Your doctor will decide if you qualify for such procedures or not. When there is more than one tumor it is not advised. I hopethis answered your questions.
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Thanks Woodlylb, this helps
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Gramen,
I'm not sure either! I'm just going by the suggestion of the Rad Onc. And I guess in my mind if I get chemo and Cyberknife radiation it will be double as good!! Lol.....I will keep you posted after the MRI:)
Kathy
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Woody, that's terrible that your sleep is so poor. Could a palliative care doctor or a sleep specialist offer any help?
Kthielen, wow, that is quite a plan. Maybe aromasin or tamoxifen in the future, eh?
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Hi,
I'm new here. Not to BCO but to this thread. Diagnosed Breast Cancer 2012, bone mets last year, and now liver and lung mets yesterday. I'm more worried about liver mets. I've had lung nodes since 2012, so they are slow growing though recently a node grew 2 mm since January but my liver met grew 1 inch since January. Going to get a liver biopsy and then start Xeloda or Abraxane. Not sure which yet. Leaning towards Xeloda.
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I am sorry Cjanet you joined our club. It is probably a good idea to wait for the liver biopsy to come out before deciding what treatment to take. You cancer status may have changed in this case your MO. Will advise what would be the best treatmenr accordingly. I hope you soon find the right treatment. I wish you contineous improvement and peace of mind. Welcome to this thread, i hope you find it supportive and helpful.
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Welcome, cjanet. I'm sorry you had to join the liver mets thread. When is your liver biopsy?
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Shetland, All of that describes me to a T....I stay on too long sitting on my bottom or stay up too late and feel lethargic the next morning. Y=Then I struggle to catch up with everyone. Also the same about not wanting to dwell on cancer 24/7 but feel that most of the people surrounding me just don't understand or don't want to talk about it at all. I forgot the words to a lot of things lately. I find myself stopping to think (HARD) about what I ma trying to say. People often fill in for me which makes me feel OLD! CJanet, I am sorry you have a new blow to the list. I hope your biopsy goes OK and they get you on a treatment quickly. Woody, the Faslodex is going OK aside from the 80 year old body you describe! My joints ache all over. It doesn't help that I have an office job. But if I happen to be there in the fall I asked them for a standing work station at my desk. I have a check in appointment tomorrow, labs ect. Then a new scan in June.
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Shetland, me too! Balance. I actually think it is the key (and challenge) to absolutely everything in life. If I could just find and maintain the correct balance!
Welcome to all those new posting here of late. I've been reading and thinking of you but don't have anything to offer you from my experience with treatments so far.
Did I mention I flunked chemo again this week? Of course I can't remember if I did or not. Platelets so low I'm not sure they'll recover by my next infusion on the 31st when we try another reduction. Upside: I am feeling super fine! Also, I think I'm really cool b/c I can give myself a shot (doing Neupogen and Neulasta now). I laugh at myself for feeling so proud. But I am!
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hi all. Have had 2 treatments a d markers up again, liver function almost normal. Wth why won't the stupid markers go down. I'm so tired of this. Nothing is working!! I'm going home in June to see family and horses. Maybe talk to them about the value of continuing treatment. Ugh.....
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Dear livinAZ -
Can you remind us all what treatment you are on? (I'm as brain dead as anyone on this thread.) Cancer markers are a lagging indicator for many treatments.
>Z<
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kaayborg, i had the same problem when i was on carbo/gemzar i lagged in session and ended up at lowered dosage and cancelled 2 infusions. They really messed my blood up. So i i hope your blood recovers soon and you feel better so you can continue treatments. And yes you are a hero for giving yourself the neupogen shot , i could never do it. Feel better soon
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Livn, the markers go up sometimes from the treatments, specially if you switched meds fast. Also, can you tells us what treatments were you on? Or fill out the treatments in your history. Why do you think , you want to discuss their value?0
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kaayborg, I'm with Woody, you are a pretty tough chick to give yourself those shots! Lvin, Don't jump the gun and assume nothing is working! Many people have TM's rise when they have good scans. Hang in there and let your Dr's figure something out. Tomorrow is another day.
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i am on eribulin. The ma time me the TM went up, it went down 50 points, not what I hoped but it went down. That's after just one treatment. So hoping they drop more. The side effects are horrible, no hair growth and still with the constant watery eyes. Ugh. This is probly the worst se. Dr says be patient we will find something.
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Hi, cjanet! Sorry to hear about the liver mets. If it helps, one of my fave factoids from this board is that you only need 10% of your liver to function! And it regenerates! Best wishes on getting rid of the bad cells!
Woody, you so rock giving yourself shots! That is a very cool thing.
I haven't checked in a while because, life. I'm at the beginning of my second cycle of chemo and things are going much better than I hoped. I've lost my hair, but I'm actually kind of enjoying doing scarves this time. I might even get crazy this summer and just go bareheaded at work one day! If it doesn't bother me, I don't see why I should worry about anyone else getting freaked out.
My first scan is June 8. I'm already getting nervous/excited. How do you all manage emotions/expectations
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hi all!
kaayborg! You are my hero..how do you manage to feel super fine on this horrible regime? I had my first carbo/gem a week ago and it has knocked me down..swollen painful throat, headache, weird feeling in the ears, zero energy and list goes on...
Lvin, Mattie hoping for the best results for both of you.
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Sending good vibes to all!
Made it to the second round of herceptin/perjeta along with the weekly navelbine, but white blood cells barely passed today so next week might have to take a break...oh well, hopefully the schedule can be tweaked to fit neulasta. ...ugh...that also means I can't travel as I had planned...bright side is that my mom and 7 year old nephew will be visiting me during his summer break...
Did I read something here about liver tumors hurting during treatment? I'm starting to feel some mild pain...but sometimes wonder if it's anxiety ...
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Lvin, I am sorry that you are continuing in limbo. Liver function being near normal is good so hang on to that in the meantime. Enjoy time with family and your horses but please don't give up yet. I believe there is something for you. You just haven't landed it yet.
Mattie, I was so very happy to read your post. The next treatment I have lined up will include hair loss. I did scarves happily enough the first time but most comfortable was always bald or a loose knit cap...not the most attractive look. I never did this in public but always soon after getting home from work. Comfy clothes and head gear by 8pm or 7. When I think about what I hope will be years (rather than just 4 months as before) of being without hair, I'm not sure I can take the scarves or wigs that long. The plan is to brave it. I worry most about making others uncomfortable to be honest. Or, I think I'm being honest. Cancer has taught me that I am much vainer than I thought. I like what you said here: If it doesn't bother me, I don't see why I should worry about anyone else getting freaked out. I am going to try to remember that.
MaryK, you must remember I am supposed to have two treatments in 2 weeks time and 2 weeks off but lately, I've had just one at a reduced dose followed by 3 weeks off. This has happened at least twice. Old energy is emerging...so super swell. Normally, I do feel pretty good (but not super well) but I did have tinnitus, not ringing but the heart-pounding sound in my ears earlier on. Is that your ear thing? Drove me nuts some nights but other times not so bad.
Take care friends!
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Hello All,
Welcome to cJanet......
I am in a total panic. I had a CAT scan yesterday. Got the results online last night. Liver is not responding to tx. More lesions. My liver function #s kept going down, so I assumed things would be positive. Also, now appearing in the spine. L10? The report said pathological fracture. Anyone know what that means? I see the oncologist tomorrow & supposed to have Taxatere # 4. I do not think she will continue with that now. Be back here tomorrow night to let you know, hopefully I will have some better news & have calmed down a couple of notches. Thanks for listening......
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Holeinone - Your scan results are outside my experience, but the panic is not. I am glad you see your oncologist so quickly.
>Z<
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holeinone-
Hugs. Those results are scary. I am hopeful tomorrow will at least give you a plan that helps ease the panic.. Will be thinking of you.
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