Results of Pet/CT scan after 3 cycles of Kisqali

[Thrifty51]

Quoting directly:

No findings in Head and Neck, Chest, nor in Abdomen and Pelvis.

Resolution of left anterior third rib.

Decreased FDG avidity of the left sacrum, previously SUV equals 4.4 now SUV equals 3.2.

Heterogeneous attenuation of the bones diffusely, consistent with diffuse metastatic disease. (I'm not sure what this means but I will ask the doc when I see her next Tuesday.) If you know please share with me.

Carcineoembryonic Antigen blood test is now 57.5 was 129 in January

Cancer Antigen blood test is now 22 (Normal) was 83.8 in January.

This all sounds great to me. I had to reduce my dose on the third cycle due to extreme fatigue and low WBC so I do feel somewhat better now and only a few days of not feeling well. I have all the other side effects as hair falling out, mouth sores, constipation, etc.

When friends ask about the medicine I'm taking, I just say it is like Ibrance since very few have heard of Kisqali. My oncologist decided on Kisqali because it has fewer side effects for blood clots and i had one when I was in the rehab hospital after breaking my second hip.

I'll breathe easily until next scan.

Thank you ladies for your support and knowledge. This calls for a nice glass of my best (cheap) wine!!!

[Barbteeth]

Fab news

Enjoy your wine...strangely I’m drinking a glass of white..had a fabulous ride out on my horse..beautiful evening sun..made me feel great and glad to be alive

Have a pet scan tomorrow eeek!... worried about what that will show up as my markers are increasing every month and there’s progression in my liver but hopefully it can be zapped

We have to celebrate the good scans though

All the best

Barb xx

[Thrifty51 in reply to Barbteeth]

Thanks Barbteeth,

My markers have been all over the place for this three months but for the last ones. The doc said she didn't pay much attention to them.

Have you looked into proton therapy for your liver? I watched part of a documentary on Netflix about the history of the Mayo Clinic. They stated that proton therapy was so much better than regular radiation but costs 3 times as much but Mayo is going to charge the same as regular hoping to bring down the prices. I checked before my radiation in January but was told no.

Best to you!

[Barbteeth in reply to Thrifty51]

Hi there

If there is only the one liver nodule then the radiation will be a SABR one...very high intensity but a small precise area is zapped and apparently it has less side effects and not as many sessions...fingers crossed I can have it because I can then stay on my current medication

Barb xx

[Red71 in reply to Barbteeth]

Good luck tomorrow...or is it today now in England? I had mine today. You can keep your fingers crossed for me and I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you! Elaine

[Scandia68 in reply to Barbteeth]

Good luck tomorrow x

[SoCalLady]

I'm happy to see you are doing well on Kisqali after just three cycles!! Another name for Kisquali is Ribociclib. It's a newer CDK4/6 inhibitor than Ibrance, but not too many people seem to be on it at least on this site. I've been on Kisquali/Ribociclib for 24 cycles now. It has never reduced my bone mets, just kept them stable. I've had a-lot of hair thinning, but no constipation and never mouth sores; however it gives me diarrhea one day a month toward the end of the cycle, which I think is my body's way of saying enough is enough. Give us an update when you see your onc next Tuesday. Happy Memorial Day!

[Ibelong]

Heterogeneous attenuation of the bones, means that they see a difference in places and that difference is not like normal bone. They feel this difference is due to the bones having metastasis within them. They indicate diffuse or that you have metastasis in more than one location. From this statement you cannot tell if it differs from your last scan. This is what your final analysis in the last section of the report should state and your doctor should explain. I think as you do that, the report is good. I am crossing my fingers for you. I have been reading my reports for 12 years now. I have gotten into the habit of not doing so until I speak to my doctor. Then I read them. If I have questions I will ask. I have gotten myself very scared for not understanding the wording and for no reason.

[mariootsi]

Enjoy your wine! Celebrate!

[Jerseygirl45]

I agree. Whatever good news we get with a petscan is so helpful to us.

Barbara