Please respect that this forum is for members with stage IV/metastatic breast cancer only. There is a separate forum for caregivers and friends: Caring for Someone with Stage 4 or Mets.
Posted on: Aug 16, 2013 07:02PM
blondie1 wrote:
I continue to be very scared once I found my liver mets progressed after having to go off doxil. I am hoping to find some support in alleviating my deep seated fears by hearing other stories of people living and dealing with liver mets. My onc says I have such a petite frame (105) that an enlarged liver will definitely cause me some pain until chemo takes care of it.
How are others doing and getting through this with a positive attitude?
Posts 18211 - 18240 (18,436 total)
Nov 29, 2021 07:43PM - edited Nov 29, 2021 07:57PM by Moveforward
Nov 29, 2021 07:48PM SusaninSF wrote:
Thanks for the tip, Moveforward. I have dry mouth all day long. Biotin never helped me either.
Nov 30, 2021 01:59AM BSandra wrote:
Dear Nicole, congratulations, I think it is a very good scan and sign. "Reduction", "decrease" are magical words. What about that unstable lesion, is it a real or pseudo increase (as it is difficult to understand because of Y90 treatment)? Saulius
Nov 30, 2021 01:13PM - edited Nov 30, 2021 01:27PM by NicoleRod
I'm I'm hospital severe pain in brain. Did a CT scan they saw somethjng..looks like a brain met.....waiting for MRi all I know is is its on the right in the Front??? FINDINGS: There is an ill-defined area of hypodensity in the subcortical
white matter of the right frontal lobe, best identified on images
#14-16. It measures approximately 1.8 cm in size. There is no mass
effect.
I'm freaking out
Nov 30, 2021 01:18PM moth wrote:
oh crap, NIcole. Sending you gentle hugs
Initial dx at 50. Seriously?? “Sometimes the future changes quickly and completely and we’re left with only the choice of what to do next." blog: Never Tell Me the Odds
Dx 12/2017, IDC, Left, 1cm, Stage IA, Grade 3, 0/5 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2- (IHC) Surgery 12/12/2017 Lumpectomy: Left; Lymph node removal: Sentinel Chemotherapy 2/14/2018 AC + T (Taxol) Radiation Therapy 8/13/2018 Whole-breast: Breast Dx 2/2020, IDC, Stage IV, metastasized to liver/lungs, Grade 3, ER-/PR-, HER2- Chemotherapy 3/18/2020 Taxol (paclitaxel) Immunotherapy 3/19/2020 Tecentriq (atezolizumab) Chemotherapy 11/26/2020 Abraxane (albumin-bound or nab-paclitaxel) Dx 12/9/2020, IDC, Right, Stage IV, metastasized to lungs, Grade 3, PR-, HER2- (IHC) Radiation Therapy 12/9/2020 External: Chest wall Dx 1/28/2021, IDC, Left, Stage IV, metastasized to bone Radiation Therapy 3/3/2021 External: BoneNov 30, 2021 01:32PM Husband11 wrote:
Oh Nicole, that is terrible. We are with you. We never get tired of giving out hugs and support here.
Nov 30, 2021 01:39PM candy-678 wrote:
Nicole- When will you talk to a doctor--- your MO--- about what all this means? My thoughts are with you.
Nov 30, 2021 02:22PM ShetlandPony wrote:
Nicole, what a scary development. But wait for the MRI to get better info. If it is a brain met, there are good treatments. Think of Illimae. I'm sorry this is happening!
Nov 30, 2021 02:22PM NicoleRod wrote:
Thanks all. ...Candy ..I dint know ...I didn't get MRI yet I'm still here in ER waiting......
Nov 30, 2021 04:21PM Kattysmith wrote:
{{{ Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry and will be thinking of you.}}}
Nov 30, 2021 04:21PM BevJen wrote:
Nicole,
Please report in when you can. I'm so sorry. Prayers coming your way.
Nov 30, 2021 05:01PM NicoleRod wrote:
I am probably going to be checking nyself out if hospital before MRI....its a nightmare in here I'm still waiting I would rather just get it out in town . The Neurosurgeon fellow came down and basically ci firmedbits a met its not a white area its a gray black lesion etc. The MRI is just ci firm and get more details. So my question is....obviously my treatment fauled..but no treatment oenetratrs blood brain barrier so what does that mean for brain metzers as far as systemic therapy??
Nov 30, 2021 05:10PM BevJen wrote:
Nicole,
You should stay there and have this confirmed/denied by other than a fellow. He/she probably doesn't know your whole history or what else this could be. I also don't think that's still true, that nothing can cross the blood/brain barrier. And what of gamma knife?
You need to know what you're dealing with. Take a deep breath and get the MRI done and explained to you. Please.
Nov 30, 2021 05:13PM Husband11 wrote:
It's not correct that systemic treatment drugs don't cross the blood / brain barrier. I've forgotten which one's do, but some do.
I believe they often treat brain mets with radiation, and it's quite effective.
Nov 30, 2021 05:38PM Moderators wrote:
Nicole, we're here for you! 
Here is a link to information regarding radiation treatment methods for brain metastases: Brain Metastasis: Local Treatments. This article has some good context https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/_rwd/head.php. There are a lack of effective systemic therapies for brain mets because most don't cross the blood/brain barrier, as you said.
They're working on targeted therapies in clinical trials to improve treatment.
And here is the page for the Brain Mets Sisters.
Nov 30, 2021 06:04PM Sadiesservant wrote:
Nicole, I'm so sorry this is happening but as others have said, please wait for the MRI to get as much information as possible. It can be treated. Sending hugs.
Nov 30, 2021 06:49PM B-A-P wrote:
Nicole ,
So sorry you’re having to deal with this new development. There are some systematic therapies that cross the BBB and gamma knife is supposed to be really good . With one met, I’d imagine that’s the direction this might take. Hopefully you’ll get answers soon. Thinking of you.
Spoke with the Thrombsis dr and he is saying no to thinners for my portal vein clot. He said the last ct didn’t show it so he’s not confident it’s still there. Though my other drs said CT is not reliable for seeing clots in the portal vein. We had thought this was causing the ascites but according to him it’s the liver damage that is. So hoping that the ibrance kicks in and can dry it up. I know I have cirrhosis too so I’m not sure if I should expect to live with ascites forever. Regardless, bc I had a near fatal bleed in the hospital, I’m at high risk for another so the thinners are out of the question. I’m fine with his recommendations. It’s one thing off my plate
Nov 30, 2021 07:27PM Husband11 wrote:
BAP, if the ibrance doesn't work as well as expected, try abemaciclib. It may work where ibrance doesn't. My wife made the switch owing to rising tumor markers, and it brought them back down.
Nov 30, 2021 07:35PM B-A-P wrote:
Husband,
Will definitely bring it up to my MO. I don’t get a Pet scan until mid January so we will see then depending if my body can handle the ibrance with my counts. I have a mid way blood draw this Friday. I might broach the subject with her at my next visit to see what her thoughts are on it. So I know what to expect if ibrance fails
Nov 30, 2021 07:44PM NicoleRod wrote:
I just had the MRI we don't see any mets in the report are we right??? HISTORY: Frontal mass
COMPARISON: CT head from earlier the same day. Brain MRI 07/26/2021.
TECHNIQUE: MRI of the brain was performed with and without contrast
enhancement. Enhanced images were obtained following intravenous
administration4.6cc Gadavist.
FINDINGS:
There is no evidence of acute infarct, mass, hemorrhage, or
hydrocephalus. There is an approximately 2 cm area of abnormal T2
prolongation the right frontal white matter. This is unchanged compared
with prior MRI and is nonspecific, likely an area of leukomalacia from
prior insult. There is no associated mass effect, hemorrhage, or
abnormal enhancement.
There is a stable moderately extensive area of enhancement in the pons,
likely a developmental venous anomaly.
There is an unchanged 3 mm hypoenhancing area centrally within the
pituitary gland, is likely either a pars intermedia cyst or
microadenoma.
The paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells are clear.
IMPRESSION :
1. No acute intracranial abnormality identified.
2. There is moderately extensive area of abnormal T2 prolongation the
right frontal white matter. This is long-standing and is nonspecific,
most likely an area of leukomalacia from prior insult.
3. There is moderately extensive area of venous enhancement in the pons,
likely developmental venous anomaly.
4. Unchanged 3 mm hypoenhancing area centrally within the pituitary
gland, likely either a pars intermedia cyst or a microadenoma.
David Mehfoud, MD
11/30/2021 7:27 PM
Nov 30, 2021 07:46PM - edited Nov 30, 2021 07:48PM by terri-c
This is good, whatever they are looking at has been seen before and is unchanged.
(gentle hugs) keeping you in my prayers Nicole!
Nov 30, 2021 08:06PM BevJen wrote:
What Terri-C said -- so glad that you had this test done.
Nov 30, 2021 08:25PM NicoleRod wrote:
praise God they came in and confirmed!!! NO CANCER there.
Nov 30, 2021 08:48PM - edited Nov 30, 2021 08:51PM by ShetlandPony
What a relief. Bev was right; that fellow did not know as much as he thought he did. So sorry you had to go through the worry. I'm actually pretty ticked off that he would tell you it looked like a brain met without your even having an MRI and a fully qualified person interpret it. How careless of him to just say that and put you through hell.
Nov 30, 2021 09:15PM B-A-P wrote:
Yay Nicole ! What a fright ! I second what Bev said. He put you through such unnecessary worry
Nov 30, 2021 09:52PM SeeQ wrote:
Nicole- what a scare! So glad it was a false alarm. BTW, Verzenio is one that crosses the BBB. I remember my first MO mentioning it when he first started me on it. Here's a recent article that mentions it.
https://pipelinereview.com/index.php/2021101379411...
Dec 1, 2021 01:46AM BSandra wrote:
Uh, Nicole, so much has happened overnight. No words can tell how happy I am that nothing was found. Phiu... Saulius
Dec 1, 2021 04:49AM denny10 wrote:
Gee Nicole, I have just caught up on all the posts ,what a horrible time you had. I am glad this stressful incident has ended .
B.A.P. wishing you a long time on Ibrance and hope your port works safely.
Dec 1, 2021 07:03AM Husband11 wrote:
That is fantastic Nicole
Dec 1, 2021 07:04AM DaughterOf wrote:
Nicole I am so very happy for you. I celebrate all these victories for all of you ladies.
I need a little help.. This might not be the best sub to post in but since my mum is in the same boat as all of you, I was thinking maybe someone had a word of advice for me.
She's currently stable on ibrance and her doctors are looking to use cyber knife on her two largest lesions since they're increasing just a bit. She lives symptom free and apart from knowing she has MBC she feels absolutely fine. However, she has entered a state of horrible anxiety and depression.. She cries and argues with me everyday, doesn't want to do anything, go anywhere, only speaks of dying and how it's all over.. Even though doctors are giving her great chances. I've tried being understanding, tried taking her to trips, suggested psychiatric help.. She won't hear it. We've come to a point where she cries and argues everyday almost all day.. Whatever I say she finds a way to make it seem like she's dying. I am honestly at a loss. I need to know how to help her without also killing myself because this situation has been incredibly hard.
Grateful in advance, a daughter who loves her mother.