I was diagnosed stage 4 at initial diagnosis 4 years ago,I have been on Ibrance 100mg and Letrozole,. Last year my PET showed my tumor was growing, today I had a mammogram and ultra sound which put the tumor at 2cm (initial size was 4.1).luckily no metastasis. M y question is have any of you ladies after being on a Ibrance every had a tumor removed this far into treatment?
Thank you
Yes, I had a mastectomy and primary tumor removed in March after diagnosis in Jan 2020. Let me know if you other questions! Cindi
Hi Cindi. Did you have mets?
Yes, Mets to hip and back. The scans after the surgery seemed to indicate the Mets are not active right now. I did not have radiation to those Mets so the Ibrance/ exemestane is doing it’s job.
I did not have any lymph nodes removed with the mastectomy— scans indicated they were clear and the surgeon said I would have less chance of lymphadema . So my surgery was not as complicated as some mastectomies.
Thank you for that information. I have one met on my hip, talking to my oncologist tomorrow about surgery, today's ultrasound showed lymph nodes were clear, so that was good news.
Let me know what the surgeon has to say. Hopefully no lymph nodes removed!
Was it your decision to remove the breast tumor?. My mom’s oncologist said there is no point of doing that. She has lung mets. And after 4 months of treatment there is improvement of lung mets. So I was thinking if Ibrance would clear her Mets by next scan I want to talk to surgeon about removing the initial tumor in breast. Her lymphs are clear as well. I don’t understand what’s the point of keeping the initial tumor in breast. I know that it’s stage 4,but that tumor in breast will increase the chances of more spread anyway. I don’t know maybe I don’t understand…
Surgery fir Stage 4 patients is controversial. There is a study if bone met patients with3 or fewer Mets— that surgery extended life. My radiation oncologist is involved in the study and she thought I would benefit from surgery.
Sorry about no improvement with your mom. Is she stable? Meaning no additional growth in the Mets?
Your information about surgery was very beneficial to me. Just got off the phone with my oncologist and she said if the PET scan in September still showed an uptake than we will discuss surgery, her only concern is the fact that I am a type 1 diabetic.
Happy to help! Please let me know how things progress in September.❤️
She has improvement:). Lung Mets got smaller.
That’s great news!
Gmaoftriplets,
I was on Ibrance 115 mg and anastrozole for 10 months before the tumor was taken out after 11 months. It was originally 5cm, and had shrank to 2.5cm. There was cancer in one of the 18 lymph nodes that they removed, and already suspected cancer in that lymph node. It may have shrank more if I had continued on Ibrance, but I just wanted it OUT OF ME.
Not sure if this helps.
Best,
Colleen
Thank you. Yes this information is very helpful. Going to wait until September PET scan to see what it looks like. My doctors concern is that I am a type 1 diabetic and she is worried about infection.
Correction….125 mg of Ibrance.
I was diagnosed in 2013 with mets to my left hip. In 2020 the breast tumour started to grow and cause problems so surgery was recommended. I had an excellent surgeon. She removed the whole left breast and multiple lymph nodes which were affected. Cancer has never returned to any of those areas. Unfortunately, I had, by this time the start of lung mets which have progressed to both lungs now. I am happy I had the breast tumour removed.
Cheers, June S.
Thank you for that encouraging information. We are going to wait and see what the PET scan looks like in September. The concern for me having a mastectomy is that I am a type 1 diabetic and my doctor is concerned about infection. I personally know I will be fine and I want this surgery!
Great. Then if you have confidence in your surgeon go ahead. You should have the final decision. Wishing you all the best. It is a fairly simple operation.
Cheers, June S.
Hi I couldn’t wait to have surgery! Was diagnosed with mets to spine and 1 lymph node in April 20. Had mastectomy in June 21 and am now having radiotherapy on chest wall. Am so pleased had operation, now I am requesting a removal of other breast, this disease doesn’t follow a road map and I want 1 less place for it to attack!. Good luck with your decision xx
Thank you, I really want the surgery, just concerned because of my diabetes.
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