Pulmonary metastasectomy anyone?

[Kahe]

HI , I am (almost) 60 years old and have ER+ her- metastatic breast cancer. My cancer returned after first being diagnosed 12 years . I have several tumours in my right lung. I have been stable on ibrance and letrozole for 2 years (hoping and praying for this good quality of life to continue). I have been able to continue to work, exercise and travel (more or less ) as normal

My question here is has anyone on this site had a pulmonary metastasectomy? Or do you know of anyone who has had? I understand this is an operation not carried out very often..... I am busy researching it and would be interested to hear of others experiences

Many many thanks and wishing everyone well on this journey

Kx

[NPmary]

It sounds like you have a really good quality of life - that's great. This is a big surgery with a rigorous post op recovery time - but it sounds like it's something the docs think you can handle. I don't know anyone who has had this surgery but I can tell you if I was in your shoes I think I would seriously consider it. Hopefully you would do well and never end up with horrible lungs like mine are now. I suggest you learn everything about this, look up scholarly articles - the NIH usually has really good, free info on the internet. Ask your docs about everything.Wish you the best. Let us know what you decide and how you're doing.

[Kahe in reply to NPmary]

Thank you NPMary appreciate your reply. My onc has not suggested this surgery. I briefly mentioned it to him in.passing and he said no it probably would not be recommended.....but that he could refer me to others for an opinion. So...am researching what I can before I get that opinion. Do you mind me asking about yoir condition when you say your lungs are horrible? I am always curious about progression as I like to be prepared for what might come down the line. I hope you are doing ok at the.moment 🙏🙏 thanks for your reply K

[NPmary in reply to Kahe]

I am on comfort care, no longer treating cancer. I have masses in the lungs and lymphangetic spread in the lungs (unusual per my doc). The worse thing is that l have very little functioning lung on the right and the right lung is 'trapped' meaning the lung does not fully expand through the chest cavity - the lung pressures are not right this causes pain, breathlessness, weakness. A pleural effusion on the right side is being drained every day at home - l try to stop draining before too much pain. I can't do much at all. The trapped lung and pattern of lung mets l have are not 'common or usual' - so that's actually good news for others. I thought your doc had recommended. surgery. If your masses are small and your treatment is keeping things stable and you have a good quality of life then you have the best of all possible outcomes right now. Good For You.

Know that pulmonary nodules sometimes are more from inflammation than cancer they sometimes get smaller or not seen again. When l was first diagnosed and had nodules and effusion- Letrozole and lbrance worked wonders for a full 6 years. I have so much to be grateful for. I have every confidence to believe that you will have continued exceptional years.

I hope my responses have not depressed you. I didn't understand that your docs didn't recommend the surgery (that's probably actually really Good News).

Best, Mary. 💕🪷💕

[monkeygirl62 in reply to NPmary]

Oh Mary I am so so so very sorry you are going through that and I pray that the pain gets managed on Comfort Care. I too have mets to both lungs and I am currently on Ibrance and letrozole. I have nodules too. One of the larger tumors 4cm in my lungs hasn't shrunk but at least it's not growing right now. I am on palliative care because of my pain, neuropathy in my left hand and arm. I can't imagine what you are dealing with. Painful just to breathe and not being able to do anything. My heart goes out to you. Thank you for letting us know that have mets to the lungs that this is unusual. Hugs 🫂 and prayers.

[NPmary in reply to monkeygirl62]

Thank you so much for your kind, empathetic response.Just want to clarify - mets to the lungs is not really rare - it's the way it spread there thru the lymph in the lungs.

[monkeygirl62 in reply to NPmary]

I understand what you were saying that yours were the way it spread and such. Are you on Comfort Care permanently or just for now?

[NPmary in reply to monkeygirl62]

On comfort care now, expect to be on hospice at home in another month or two.

[wmaker in reply to NPmary]

you're such a brave warrior 🙏

[TammyCross]

I believe someone on here did that, to good effect. She had to go to many docs before she found one willing to do the surgery. I will try to put her in touch with you.

[Fiercelypink]

My dad had half of a lung removed to remove a metastasis to his lung; he also completed chemo and radiation. Then, he lived healthy and cancer free for 30 years! He passed from Altzheimers. Back then, they had to open his chest for surgery, but now, some lung surgeries can be done laproscopically!

[monkeygirl62]

I did some research on pulmonary metastesectomy as I too have met to the lungs. I am going to look into this also since I have one tumor in the lung that is 4 cm and it's not shrinking but it's not growing right now. I am on letrozole and Ibrance and my other tumors have shrunk in half and liver lesions disappeared completely.