Possible Progression

[Kcap430]

Good morning my beautiful thrivers!

For the last 2 years I have been bone only Mets with reoccurring masses in my right breast chest wall.

I had a CT scan yesterday which shows a new liver lesion measuring 2.6 cm. Everything else is stable. Including tumor markers and bloodwork.

I have been on Ibrance and Letrozole.

My question is…Has anyone stayed on their therapy and just radiated the new area? I hate to give up this regimen as it has allowed me to live my life pretty well.

I appreciate you all always and have always felt so thankful for this group.

[Aprilfoolz1]

Kcap, I'm sorry you have had some progression . I would want a biopsy on this new liver met to see if there are any new mutations / same hormone and her2 status of your original cancer .

I have heard of some women staying on the cdk med and switching to fulvestrant but you will want to know if you now have an mutation that the oral serd works on (esr1 mutation I think is what that would be ?) or if you have acquired the pik3ca mutation .

Let us know your plan .

[bikebabe]

I’d agree with April foolz to either get tissue biopsy or ctDNA to check mutations and get the most appropriate therapy. I had read that having a break from palbo Letrozole to use something else can sometimes kickstart it to working again but am not sure I’d want to take that risk. Watch this space as im just a bit behind you re progression and also love the freedom and sense of not having cancer that palbo/lettie gives me. Maybe it’s just the hormone side that needs changing and there other newer classes of blocker apart from letrozole.

[Trissh]

Good morning! It was jolting two months ago when scans found a new spot on my femur. Started Ibrance and Letrozole two years ago with mets in bone, liver, lungs and liver nodes. Had surgery for rod in leg and radiation at the time and then started meds. The nodes and lung cleared up and liver mets have shrunk and bone mets stable until this one new spot. I did have radiation on the new spot and will have another scan at the end of November. Like you, I very much want to stay on current meds but I guess my scan will tell how the story goes. --Trish

[Kcap430 in reply to Trissh]

Wishing you only positive news💕

[Teedo]

I have been taking Ibrance 125mg and Letrozole since diagnosis in October of 2020. I have Mets in my bones, lungs, and liver. All Mets had been stable until March of this year when there was an increase in the lesion in my humerus. My ONC ordered generic bloodwork, Guardian 360, which is supposed to indicate if the cancer has mutated. I also received 5 days of radiation on my arm. The bloodwork showed no mutations and I have had 2 scans since which show shrinkage in my humerus. To my relief I have been able to continue my course of Ibrance and Letrozole. I hope this helps. I know I had severe anxiety about changing medication when I learned of the increase. Sending hugs

[Kcap430 in reply to Teedo]

Helps soo much! Thank you!

[fancydog]

I think you will need to get a biopsy of some type of the new site in your liver. I was able to have a single lymph node biopsied a few yrs ago and it was found to still have my exact same HR+, HER2- status so I was able to have radiation only which zapped it away!

[Kcap430]

Thank you all for your words and advice. Spoke to my doctor yesterday. I’m getting an MRI of the liver tomorrow to confirm if it’s in fact progression. If it is then biopsy. If no mutation then radiation is definitely on the table as an option being the rest of my body is doing really well. So one step at a time. And in the meantime I will hold onto hope and live my days💕

[Lavern2]

Hello sweetie. Its been a year this past June my doctor put me on Letrozole and I had the zometa infusion before I took radiation . I can't say that I see any difference. My biggest complaint after radiation is no energy and I have started having more hit flashes .I don't know if the medicine is causing it or just old age. Lol.i developed lympphedma in my right arm that I took therapy for and I wear a compression sleeve and glove when swelling appear. But life is ok I'm alive thank God. All I can say if you are feeling okay just go with the flow. Prayers for your healing. Love you lots 💗

[Kcap430 in reply to Lavern2]

Thank you! Right back at you 💕

[Andersl]

I havent been in your position as when I've progressed it's always more than one place so a change of chemo has been the solution. However, I think it's reasonable to ask your oncologist if you can have the liver spot irradiated and stay on the same systemic treatment.

Best wishes x

[Dragonfly2]

hello! I came back to your post upon reading your question about radiation on the new lesions. You’ve received some really helpful responses…especially regarding the type of cancer in these new areas.

Continuing IBrance and anastrozole if the meds are failing may not be a good option. The radiation does drop the tumor markers but that’s just a temporary adjustment. If you have the PIK3ca mutation you’ll need another treatment other than IBrance. I’m faced with a similar situation…and I hope that my next treatment after I’m done with radiation will be as tolerable as my run with IBrance. Best of luck to you…I hope that we all find comfort and resolution to our problems. 🙌❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹