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liver lesions

sabal profile image
32 Replies

I was diagnosed with breast cancer metastacised to the bone 2 years ago. Have been on xgeva and faslodex since. A recent ultra sound shows lesions on my liver. Will see the oncologist Monday. Any ideas about what might come next as far as treatment???? Thanks

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sabal profile image
sabal
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32 Replies
JeanieLee3 profile image
JeanieLee3

You and I are following the same path with the same time frame... I too was diagnosed with bone mets two years ago and recent ctscan found liver lesions-- onc wants a biopsy and then says we will discuss possible chemo treatment.... I really don't know what to expect next... hoping there are lots of alternatives around treatment........ I feel okay and have no symptoms from liver-- I have 'fatty' liver so......... I just don't know what to expect-- I wish you well .. let me know what your onc. decides.. I see mine June 1st.. presently on faslodex and Ibrance.

sabal profile image
sabal in reply to JeanieLee3

THANKS so much for responding....glad to know I'm not alone!!! I live in the Fort Myers, FL area...how about you??? My lesions were detected by an ultrasound...I do feel tenderness in that area. Tomorrow is my appointment and I will let you know what my onc reccomends. Take care "pink sister". 🤗

JeanieLee3 profile image
JeanieLee3 in reply to sabal

Hi, I live in Kingston, Ontario Canada...and go to the Eastern Ontario Cancer Clinic-- do let me know what your Onc recommends.... I will let you know what mine says....... I had a Ctscan... although I have a suspicion that my bloodwork might have said that the liver enzymes were high.. I am going to ask the Onc.. I hope that he is sharing the info up front.. I need to make sure of that .. sometimes I think he fudges... I always want to be told all the facts no matter what. and feel like I am a partner in the decision making and not just being told what will be next. I have three adult children.. 19,22,23. all in university.. I find that the hardest. what do I tell them and when. I don't want them to stay home or worry about me. that is very hard for me.

sabal profile image
sabal in reply to JeanieLee3

It might be good to ask for a written copy of your bloodwork each time you have a draw. No room for fudging then. Our son 48 is recovering from a fall off a ladder. For long times he was not calling me...his reason was not to worry me...but I was more worried NOT KNOWING than being given time to adjust to bad news. Of course each person is different. Perhaps someone on this site will have advice with telling your kids. I'd opt for telling after their exams. They love you very much and I would guess would want to know...good luck...😁

JeanieLee3 profile image
JeanieLee3 in reply to sabal

As hard as it can be-- openness is the best route to go.. I hope your son is doing well and on the mend. I remember John Bradshaw saying 'you are only as sick as your secrets'. so true-- take care of yourself.

And4527 profile image
And4527 in reply to sabal

I am also from Ft. Myers area. I had liver lesions all over my liver when I was first diagnosed with stage four last June. I went on Taxatere, Herception and Pergeta. My liver lesions all went away. But I was treated like I was Her2 positive and when I went to Herception and Perjeta only they all came back. I am now on Toxil with very little side affects and they are all gone again. I did have tenderness but it is gone as well. I was pretty scared for a while since my whole liver was full. Keep the faith!

sabal profile image
sabal in reply to And4527

Are you by any chance one of Bonnie's Beauties??? ( local support group) Glad to hear what you were on and how it affected you...thanks so much for sharing. I see my onc. this afternoon.

And4527 profile image
And4527 in reply to sabal

No but I will have to check into that. I am a part timer in Ft Myers but would love to find some support. Hope your apt went well!

sabal profile image
sabal in reply to And4527

Bonnies Beauties is a breast cancer support group that meets once a month at The Forest on Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers. There is also a group led by a social worker at the Regional Cancer Center on Colonial near Rt. 75. They meet once a month also.

Jaxon2007 profile image
Jaxon2007 in reply to And4527

I know this post was a year ago, but wondering how you are doing now. I was just diagnosed this month with the same.

sabal profile image
sabal in reply to JeanieLee3

My onc will start me on iBrance added to the xgeva and faslodex I already receive.

If I tolerate it, he will do an ultrasound again in 3 months to see if the lesions have shrunk. I'll sure be praying for that. Since my liver isn't functioning up to par, I have bouts of nausea. Hopefully it will go away.

And4527 profile image
And4527 in reply to sabal

Prayers to you. Hope you get great results.

sabal profile image
sabal in reply to And4527

Thank you and to you to...HUGS

Anneespo profile image
Anneespo

Wish you the best of luck and yes hopefully there are many more options for all of us. This time around for me had been really hard I feel so crappy no energy legs weak and hard to breath any I've experience this mind mets are in lymph nodes in between lungs right now I am on Halaven just finished1st cycle on my week off

KirkwoodDebbie profile image
KirkwoodDebbie

My cancer went into my liver back in 2007. There are many different treatments to ask about. I have had chemoembolization, radioembolization and Proton Therapy. I have been on quite a few different types of chemo since 2007, some with side effects and some without. I'm HER2+ and currently on Neratinib. I'm getting ready to go testify to the FDA on Wednesday about my good success with Neratinib. I'm very excited to make a difference!

sabal profile image
sabal in reply to KirkwoodDebbie

You don't live in Kirkwood, MO by any chance do you??? That is exciting to go before the FDA!!!

KirkwoodDebbie profile image
KirkwoodDebbie in reply to sabal

Yes, I do! Are you in Kirkwood?

sabal profile image
sabal in reply to KirkwoodDebbie

I live in Fort Myers, FL but my son lives on Evans Avenue in Kirkwood.

How about that!! We visited him last October.

KirkwoodDebbie profile image
KirkwoodDebbie in reply to sabal

We live on N. Clay, which is just a couple of blocks from Evans. If he's between Manchester Road & downtown Kirkwood on Evans we are probably pretty close! It's a great place to live. I've been here my whole life (58 years). :)

JeanieLee3 profile image
JeanieLee3 in reply to KirkwoodDebbie

Thanks!!

Kathleen1999 profile image
Kathleen1999

I wish I could help you but although they have been watching nodes in my lungs, I don't seem to have true mets anywhere else except for the bones.

Let us know what your oncologist suggests. There is a dual hormonal drug tha t I was told would follow Faslodex...but unfortunately with my lung condition, I cannot go there. Xeloda, is my next treatment.

Best wishes!

sabal profile image
sabal in reply to Kathleen1999

Thank you Kathleen for your input...😁

Joan37 profile image
Joan37

I'm sorry to hear about the liver lesions. Since they appear to be new you could perhaps treat them with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which is a minimally invasive procedure, along with continuing systemic treatment.

RFA is not radiation. It burns the tumor with radiofrequency waves. I used RFA in my lung.

Other IR procedures include cryoblation, which freezes the tumor to death, microwave ablation, and electro-nanoporation, which electrocutes the tumor (but actually kills the tumor with electrical currents).

sabal profile image
sabal in reply to Joan37

My oncologist is starting me on adding iBrance to the xgeva and faslodex I am on. Where are you located to get the treatment you speak of??? I have not heard of it.

Joan37 profile image
Joan37 in reply to sabal

I had this treatment in NYC, but it can be done anywhere. However, better at a large cancer center or large hospital. Where are you?

Many oncologist never mention IR procedures because they're not standard of care. But Stephen Chmura of U Chicago is conducting a clinical trial in metastatic breast cancer, where some patients will get only chemo and other patients will get chemo and a local procedure of either surgery or radiation.

Someone in this post mentioned chemoemboliation, which is also an IR procedure. That would be putting chemotherapy directly into the tumor via a catheter. The same can be done with radioactive beads.

I hadn't mentioned it but I first had surgery (a wedge resection) to remove a metastatic tumor from the lung but it grew back a year later. Then I had the RFA.

sabal profile image
sabal

Thanks Joan.. I am in Fort Myers, FL I am being treated locally by Florida Cancer Specialists but there is a major center in Tampa...The Moffit Cancer Center. I will check things out....thanks again.

PJBinMI profile image
PJBinMI

The treatment we receive tends to be tailored to the specifics of the cancer cells we are dealing with, esp hormone receptor status and her2neu status. I have been dealing with metastatic breast cancer for over 13 years and have bone mets. I have not had chemo or radiation and have done really well on hormonals plus first Zometa and then Xgeva when it became available. Some of us do really well for long periods of time. I've heard of several women who have lived 20 years with mbc and one who lived 30 years. The 30 year survivor attended an annual conference of the MBCN a few years ago she gave so much hope to the rest of us. I know that having mets to the liver can be scary but do know that the liver can bounce back amazingly! I've known more than one woman who has been in the hospital in liver failure from mbc, had a treatment change, and has gone on to live more years.

DonnaEddy profile image
DonnaEddy in reply to PJBinMI

Thank you so much for sharing, have mets in my bones, spine and now to liver and kidney, lymph nodes by lungs, just started xeloda alone, your post has truly given me hope! I have been crying for 2 weeks. It has been so hard working, taking care of kids, etc., but cannot quit because I have my own business and no one to give me a paycheck, I do hav faith and am trying to be hopeful, but this has definitely been a shock, thought I was invincible to it going to my organs, lol. It came back in December, 2014

sabal profile image
sabal in reply to DonnaEddy

Sorry to hear of your struggles...PJB's story was very hopeful. Sending you hugs and best wishes. Do you have family to help, do fundraisers, a gofundme page???

DonnaEddy profile image
DonnaEddy in reply to sabal

No, I am still working, have my own business, single mom. I do have lots of family support and support from friends and colleagues. I am in Kissimmee, Florida. Definitely, get encouragement from reading stories here of long term survival even with nets to organs and liver

sabal profile image
sabal

Thanks so much for sharing your story!!! It is very hopeful!!!

shanyn7 profile image
shanyn7

Hi

I read your post about Dx with liver lesions. Someone dear to me has exact thing. Being on the same medication now has developed the lesions on her liver. I want to know which path of treatment you picked and how are the lesions now?

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