advice please

[jhandley]

Hi all
I am in hospital just had a mastectomy for a second lump in left breast (first lump 4.5 yr ago, her 2+). I just peeked at my scan resluts and saw that I have one isolated liver spot all other scans clear. I will meet with my surgeon and onc. over the next day or so but would like to hear what others have found works for liver problems.
Jackie (in Australia)

[Lisa]

If it is in an accessible area, Gamma Knife can be used.

My combo of Navelbine and Herceptin rid my liver of most of its mets.

What does your onc say?

Love and light,

Lisa

[al from canada]

Dear Jackie,
I wouldn't jump the gun and let's wait for the scan results before we start a treatment plan for the "spot".

Hang-in if U can,
Al

[denise99]

Jackie, it is very possible that the spot is a benign lesion. A PET scan could be done to determine if it is cancer. A glucose solution would be injected by IV and if it is cancer, the spot will glow. I had a couple of liver biopsies, but both of them missed my spot. A PET scan would have been better, but wasn't availble for me at that time.
I did end up with numerous tumors, but after 9 months of Gemzar and Herceptin, my liver is at the moment NED.
Denise in PA

[jessica]

Hi Jackie,
So sorry you have to go thru this again! If your docs have confirmed that the spot in your liver is a met, you've got lots of options. I've been dealing with liver mets since my primary dx in 2002. After a year of chemo, I was NED for a year.Then a single,stubborn spot popped back up last Sept.
I've tried a number of different approaches including comibining RFA (RadioFrequenceyAblation) + a short round of chemo (2 cycles before RFA, then 2 more after). Because of the location of the spot, the RFA was not completely successful & it's taken a bit more chemo than expected to get to NED, but I am NED again.THANK GOD.
The RFA was a piece of cake-I was in the hosp at 6am & out by 6pm. Very minimal soreness & quick recovery. Please let me know if I can fwd any info on to you.
Hang in there & Keep the Faith!

[joy]

I agree with everyone, wait until you know for sure AND know that many things can work for liver involvement. Sooo many of us have either eliminated or lived very well with little spots. But those stupid reports scare us and i want you to know that we have been there and get it. It it okay to be scared, but also good to continue working on the concept of waiting to get the whole picture. Be kind to yourself and know that that is taking action.
love, joy

[Unregistered]

Hi all
I am most likely going to have taxol and herceptin. I have already had 3cycles each of adriamycin, taxotere and CMF first time round in 2001. I know the trials were done with taxotere..should I press for that?
Jackie

[Lyn]

Hi Jacky, I'm here to. Ask to have Carboplatin with Taxol and your Herceptin, they work better, and if your onc isn't sure get him to ring my Onc Boris at the Redcliffe Hospital, Queensland, or e-mail him
Boris_Chern@health.qld.gov.au

where are you, did I see WA somewhere. I am his only herceptin patient no one else, we are pretty rare in OZ and he has been my onc since 1998 non stop, I keep going back for more punishment.

Love & Hugs Lyn

[jhandley]

Hi Lyn
I am in Melbourne. What side effects does carboplatin have?
jackie

[athena453]

Hi Jackie,

I am currently on taxotere, carbo and herceptin for stage 3C. I have not had any of the neuropathy or fingernail/toenail problems associated with taxotere. My biggest complaint is the fatigue. I have absolutely no energy for about a week after chemo. I am also having a lot of nausea, despite taking every anti-nausea med under the sun. My onc thinks it is the carbo. I also feel very strange in the head/brain after chemo. Not a stuffy head feeling, or disoriented, just odd.

Regarding taxol vs. taxotere, I believe that taxotere is more synergistic with the herceptin.

Good luck!

[StephN]

Hi -
Sorry you have to keep whacking away at this disease, but that is how many of us end up. Just a constant battle.

No one has mentioned your Ca27-29 or other tumor marker. What is happening on that front? It was a good indicator for me, but I did not also have other disease such as your recurrence contributing to that number.

A PET or PET/CT fusion would be a good way to get further info on that spot.
You are just like me, peeking at your reports whenever you get the chance!
Tho, the infusion nurses and nice and give me copies even before I see my med onc at times. They know how anxious we can be and that stress is not good for us!

Forgot to say that Navelbine, Taxol and Herceptin took care of my liver mets. And they have never come back in over 3 years!

[doh2pa]

Hi Jackie,

I am on weekly abraxane, carbo and herceptin. Just got my first treatment last week. On A/C last year I had lots of nausea. So far no nausea, just fatigue and some flu like symptoms the day after. No neuropathy yet (crossed fingers and toes). Also, some constipation problems, but hoping to get ahead of that real soon. Stay focused on the fight - you can do this!
Donna

[jhandley]

Thankyou all for your replies; it really helps to hear what has worked for others. I will keep you posted. I have a friend who is a doc who wants me to take the cholesterol lowering drug lipitor due to its anti angiogenisis effects as well as whatever else I am on. She is a very clever lady and is a PhD researcher as well. I note that women who are on such drugs have a 52% reduced risk of BC.
I am going to ask for carboplatin based on the latest results from the ASCO updates although I will need to check the avastin results as well; when I heard Dr Slamon speak last year in Melb. he was thought this was the next step.

Regards to all..keep up the good fight.
Jackie

[Helen]

Hi Jackie,

I am currently on chemo with taxotere and carboplatin combo with herceptin. I have a spot in my liver. After 3 rounds of chemo, the CAT scan indicated that there was a significant reduction in the size of the lesion in my liver.
I have tolerated the chemo treatments well except for nausea one week after infusion day. I am hoping that the spot will clear up when I finish my chemo cycle.

Best wishes to you!

Helen

[Lyn]

Hi Jacki, I didn't have any side effects with the carboplatinum, I believe the cisplatinum is very hard on the system but some of the ladies have had that platinum based drug as well. I look at it as getting the right colour, you have to keep adding the right tints to get the perfect result, and that is what I have been doing all this time. How is your weather, I was born in Victoria, Warragul and apart from sitting in an aeroplane on the Tarmac at Melbourne I haven't been back, but I know I will one day.

Love & Hugs Lyn