CIRRHOSIS & BREAST CANCER?

[Peeps7]

My husband, now 84 has been on and off here since his cirrhosis diagnosis post AIH January 2014. He has gone from compensated to decompensated with a 6 month prognosis back to compensated, problems with a large portal vein thrombosis and varices but otherwise remarkably fit and pretty stable.

However he has very recently found a lump in his breast, I understand that there is a link between cirrhosis and breast cancer, has any one had experience of this? Thanks, Anne.

[AyrshireK]

Hi Anne, so lovely to hear from you and to hear that your dear hubby has been hanging on in there and improving and getting more life than previously envisaged.

Sorry, to not be able to offer personal experience on the breast lump issue - I hadn't actually heard of any link between cirrhosis and breast cancer BUT now you've mentioned it a quick google search does indeed indicate that the higher levels of estrogen in men with cirrhosis can indeed be a potential causal factor for development of breast cancer.

Cancer Research has a page all about breast cancer in men at:- cancerresearchuk.org/about-...

Wishing you both all the best,

Katie

[Peeps7 in reply to AyrshireK]

Dear Katie, how lovely to hear from you too! How are you and your lovely husband? I hope you are managing to enjoy a good quality of life despite everything. You are such a trooper and always such a fount of information, we are all so lucky to have you on this website. Thank you very much for the link, incredibly helpful and useful and obviously there is a positive connection between liver disease and breast cancer - who would have thought. I have managed to get Peeps' appointment with his specialist brought forward to tonight so watch this space! My very best wishes and thanks, enjoy the summer, Anne.

[Readlots]

Hi, my Mum had cirrhosis due to PBC and breast cancer. She had a lumpectomy but decided against radio therapy, which she later regretted. She was also on medication to prevent the cancer coming back. Her liver consultant was OK with the treatments and said that you have to deal with the most immediate threat first. I don’t know if that is any help?

[Peeps7 in reply to Readlots]

Thank you so much for your very helpful reply, my husband is seeing his liver specialist tonight and we will take it from there.

[Readlots in reply to Peeps7]

I think the main thing is to check that his liver specialist will liaise with his oncologist to get the best treatment for both the cancer and his liver. Good luck to you both

[Peeps7]

Thank you readlots, very good luck to you too, Anne.