How are people with liver mets doing?
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Always hope...that's what we do best...for ourselves & each other! There are definitely dark moments wondering what the future holds...and then the light comes, realizing we are alive & loved....and brilliant minds are working to find new cures!!!
I was also diagnosed w/out any symptoms, 6 months after total reconstruction, at a routine scan. My liver was full of lesions, from 1 to 8 cm. After 5 months on Navelbine/hercep/perjeta, there was 80 % shrinkage, 2 mos later 30% more, 4 mos later, stable. I'm 18 mos into chemo for life & pray that this life continues. I'm saddened that many sisters' lives have had detours because of bc, such as not being able to build families and I know being tn adds another layer of what ifs, but hope & living each day will help....along with your family here!
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Leftfootforward - thanks for sharing your great news! Thank You, Lord!
Penny0 -
Oh yes!!! Happy dancing for you, Leftfoot...can't get much better than NED!!!
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thank you so much for your wonderful words that make my sorow bearable at the moment.
Leftfoot, i am so happy to hear your great news!!!
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leftfoot,
Very happy for you, god bless you...
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most recent scans showed stable! so after 8 rounds of taxotere, herceptin and perjeta, I'm now getting just herceptin & perjeta.
I got surgical consults and am a candidate for an mx and liver ablation. the consensus is the following: three months stable and I'll get the official green light for surgery.
I know each case is unique and that my particulars are rare, but fwiw, here's what I was told at Mayo Clinic:
the liver surgeon had my teeny remaining liver spot marked with a fiducial and recommended ablation. I asked if I had seen him earlier, when I had the three lesions, would he have marked them all? his response: most likely, yes. at initial liver biopsy (2/2014) I requested markers and was told it is not done. at each onc appointment since February I've asked for a referral to a liver specialist and was told it wasn't time. I should not have listened and should have sought out the consult to at least explore options. while I know my case is unique, I hope someone can benefit from my experience.
the reason for ablation and not resection? to his eye, it's possible there was something on the right lobe at time of dx (three lesions were all on the left). while he's not certain of it, for him that's enough to make the chance of benefit from ablation and resection the same. therefore, his opinion is to reserve the option of resection for the future and pursue the less invasive ablation at this time.
while I'm not crying over spilled milk, it was tough to hear. however, learning that I'm still a candidate for local interventions definitely made my day. now, just focusing on staying stable.
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good for you spicypetunia, while most of us are not candidate to such procedures , i am happy to see that some are and wish you the best of luck and good health for a long time. With god's speed
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Great news, spicypetunia! Thank You, Lord!
Penny0 -
Sounds good Spicy Petunia!!!
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I have a question! I don't know if anyone really knows the answer but, My TM's are going up. Will do CT in a week. I am now on abraxane and Onc did increase my dose but I am wondering what will be next. Any one have any good ideas of what is to come if progression?
Thanks Redroan
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Redroan, i am sorry about your TMs i hope it is just a reaction on the chemo , some meds do cause the TMs to go up then it will go back to normal. I hope this is your case. If you have a progression then your onc will choose another chemo . I hope it is just an SE and hope you go on doing well.
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I agree with Woodylb. Tumor makers do go up as the cancer cells die. Hopfully this is the case for you. I wsh you all the best on your CT .
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Thanks for your good wishes, and the info. I will l let you all know the verdict after ct next week. Red
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wishing you good news Red
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we need good news red! Xoxox
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Ct is tomorrow, I will let you know as soon as I can! Red
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Good luck Red, i hope you get good news
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Hi all
The biopsy confirms liver mets. Pr-,Er + but not high positive, HER 2 equivocal so I'll wait for a CISH results. I'll start a treatment with Avastin. And possible Herceptin (depending on the CISH result). I can't find anything about Avastin with the Search tool and I'm confused as I don't see anyone (except nancyh) who use it.
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Kiss77 - sorry to hear that. You're still in my prayers.
Redroan - still praying for good results.
Penny0 -
Kiss77, I am very sorry about your confirmation. Even though this is not good news, still there are a lot of treatments around. I hope your doctor will finf the right combination for you. As for the CISH test, usually ILC is HER2 -, it rarely changes. In all cases you have us all here for support anytime you need one. You are in my prayers.
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Ok, Got Ct results back. I got them before I see the ONC. Looks like Liver tumor has grown a cm or so and possibly new one on left lobe, Ct not real definite on either. . Bone mets is really no different . So now I wait and see what the ONC says on Wednesday. I am guessing a med change. I dread that as My first tx with AC and cytoxin was awful. They mad it better after that but I hate feeling that bad for so long. But Chin up and smile. HOpe for the best. I chose to be hopefull. Redroan
Usually in bed by now but had treatment today and that little bit of Dex gives me lots of energy and no sleep. I can catch up later!
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I was diagnosed with breast cancer on New Years Eve of last year. Had a double mastectomy, for my own peace of mind. I was not really scared of the cancer diagnosis so much because in retrospect, I was in denial about the whole thing. I joked, I cried at times for my husband, but never really took it seriously, and after the mastectomy, thought I was cured and that was that.
Then last month I had gone to the ER for pain spasms, and they did a CT with contrast and found liver metastasis & possible metastasis on my bladder. The hubs & I have been reeling from this news. We are obviously going to an oncologist to follow up, but I just never gave it a thought that I would be dealing with any kind of cancer again. Naive?? Just a bit. Or denial, maybe a lot. Who knows.
Last year, we did hardly any research about what kind of different treatments that we should consider, but this time, it seems we are constantly on the computer looking at statistics and such. I personally, will be taking this as it should be, which is a serious matter, and hoping to write down all the questions that we should have asked before.
I had stopped looking in on these discussion groups, because I thought, oh, since I am "cured" I really don't need the support anymore. Just want to let anyone know that reads this, I won't be so cocky this time around, and thank you all for sharing your stories so I can get any & all perspectives on this to help the journey go smoothly.
My husband is my rock, but I storm away at whatever power that is, because we were high school sweethearts that just reconnected 2 years ago. October will only be our second anniversary, and I am so sad that he has been thrown into all of this with me. Don't get me wrong, He always tells me he's glad just to finally be with me, but I still can't get over the guilt of just this cancer madness.
Stupid, I know.
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I've been on weekly taxol for almost a year (my first IV chemo) & found out this past Monday it has now failed me. It had been keeping the liver mets at bay with some shrinkage over the past year, now I have a new met and all the other mets are larger!! I also have extensive bone mets, which is not new. Sucks! Waiting to hear what I'm moving on to now.
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Redroan, ynewcar, and SyrMom - sorry about your news. You're all in my prayers. Your oncologists will find the next right cocktail and we'll soon celebrate good scans!
- Penny
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Syrmom, i am sorry about your scans after this long time on taxol to find out that it failed.while waiting for the next step, o hope you take time to breathe and go to the wedding and enjoy it. Later we think about what is next. I hope you let us know how you are doing and what is next. Best wishes for the wedding. Big hugs.
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ynewcar,
It is normal to feel free of cancer and then suddenly it is back. But i hope you keep the faith that your oncologist will find the right med which will work for you. Meanwhile, you are welcome to discuss cancer anytime we are all here for you.
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Since the onc is on vacation, I'm to report for my regular taxol on Monday. The thought being to at least keep the other areas of the body "stable" until a new plan is made. The following week is the wedding, so I said no chemo that week; the week after that, it will be either the new plan or one last taxol.
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Good idea, SyrMom!
Penny0 -
My next MRI is on Monday the 18th (this Monday) @2:30pm. I'm again asking for prayers. If you're Catholic and believe in the power of Novenas, the Novena to St. Monica begins that day. Whatever you can do, I appreciate. I should have results on Wednesday the 20th at my oncology appointment. This is my first MRI since starting a new chemo cocktail. God is Good and Merciful and I have Faith in the Power of His Love for all of us.
"Lord, thank you for hearing my prayers. I pray for the desire to know and want your Will for me. I offer up the intentions of my heart for good appointments, MRI, and results on the 18th and 20th of next week. In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, I pray. Amen."
Penny0 -
ynewcar, I was like that too. Diagnosed with DCIS in right breast, had a sentinel node dissection and a lumpectomy and intra operative radiation, and that was in 2003. I was fine for 10 years - I was a goddam Amazon! No one was stronger or more athletic than me in my age group (40-50) I was physically fit and so carefree...sigh. I ate healthily, we're talking tofu and veggies and brown rice and I exercised every day for decades, rode my bike, walked, lifted weights, although, I did drink a lot of beer and smoke weed with my sister when I moved in with her in 2012 (then we'd eat decedent munchies and giggle like little girls) so I wasn't perfect.
Then, in 2013, right before my 50th birthday, I had what I thought was a bad cold. Must be too much pot, I thought. I was Coughing a lot, my lungs ached, and I was bringing up blood. And this super annoying aching in my right shoulder, plus, shoot, I couldn't run my daily 5 miles without getting winded. That was weird.
So I went to the doc, and he ordered a chest x-ray. Called me back that afternoon with the bad news. Dozens of lung mets. Get yourself to the Onc, asap.
I was shocked. Me? I'm a Friggin' Amazon, this can't happen to ME!!
That was over a year ago, the mets spread to my liver and here I sit humbly in my beloved rumpled bed, after 3 failed treatments during 2013-2014, with the same painful ache in my right shoulder, (plus lymphedema, thanks to my ignorance in what arm to stab when going through all this) a chronic pain in my liver, and I am "looking forward" to the next round of Gemzar (chemo) which will hopefully prevent some of those sneaky cancer cells from chewing up the rest of my insides.
Oh, and my long-term lover also decided to make wedding plans the day we found out cancer returned. I moved in with him after losing the debate of the futility of that scene. He thinks he has limited time with me, so he wants me next to him for as long as I live. I didn't want him to see me like this, physically...He says he loves me more each day.
so, yeah. I was cocky too. Not anymore. Sheesh, what a tough way to learn humility.
I gotta go make some brownies.
hugs to all you beautiful ladies.
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