lung metastasis - Need HELP

[CLTann]

A dear friend of mine had bc about 12 years ago. She had mastectomy followed by 5 years of anti hormone medication. Then no active medication followed after the end of 5 years. Recently, she had liquid in one lung and there are tumor cells in the red liquid. I know there are many here who had fought successfully against lung mets. Please briefly tell me what treatments gave those members the success. Thanks a lot.

[CLTann]

I received no answer from this posting. Surely there are members who had success in dealing with lung mets. Please do your best in giving me an answer. Thanks.

[chrisy]

I know at least one woman who had a lung met and was treated to remission with Herceptin and Navelbine.

[Lani]

ie, triple negative (now with her mets vs her primary) vs her2+ vs ER+her2-

Is she now her2+?Have they gone back and done her2 testing on her old primary specimen?
(is it still available for testing)?

Treatment depends on the molecular subtype of the tumor (in this case, the metastasis)

If neither her primary nor her metastasis were her 2 positive, then asking what treatment was helpful to those here may not be helpful.

A serum her2 test might also help decipher what is going on.

I am sure many will be happy to help out once they know whether she in fact was/is suffering from her2+ breast cancer.

If her mets are triple negative, I doubt contributions from the fine ladies here regarding their experience with treatment will be applicable/helpful, but they may be able to steer you to a better site for the info.

Fill us in--I am sure there are many ready to help.

[Sherryg683]

I had 2 small lung mets when diagnosed in December 05. I was treated with Taxotere, Herceptin and Xeloda given together, 5 rounds. I did Herceptin every week for the first 2 years and now do it every 3 weeks ..indefinately. They did a PET/CT after my 2nd round of chemo and the mets were pretty much gone. I have been NED since then.. thank God. I now get scanned every 6 months. I am er/pr negative. It was a do able combination of chemo, although I would have pumped gas into my veins to get rid of it. Had blistered hands and feet from the Xeloda but it a great chemo. Good luck to your friend. ..sherryg683

[Kavy]

I was diagnosed with lung and liver mets almost 3 years ago, in Nov. 2005. Since then, I have been on Taxotere/Herceptin (about 9 months), Nalvabine/Herceptin (18 months, the liver mets were/are gone and the lungs mets were almost gone), Gemzar/Herceptin (9 months), now on Xeloda/Herceptin) for 2 months.
I am er/pr negative, and Hers2 +, and I do not have fluid in my lungs, I have small nodules.
I hope your friend will find the right treatment soon that will keep the mets under control and bring her to NED.
Hugs,
KarlaV.

[Vi Schorpp]

I can be of no assistance since I haven't deal with this, but go go the search option and type in lung mets and something there may be helpful. Best wishes for your friend.

[CLTann]

I am very aware of the importance of tumor characteristics, thus the treatment plan. However, my friend is at the other side of the world and I am not sure they do all the testings. I will check and come back for more questions. Thanks for the answers so far. She is very much encouraged by the fact that many have been in remission.

[Joan M]

Ann,

Sorry to hear about your friend.

I had radiofrequency ablation for a single pulmonary nodule about five weeks ago. Since it was so recent, I'm not sure about the outcome.

I'm probably going to follow up with 6 rounds of Xeloda. I'm currently on only Herceptin.

Joan

[madubois63]

As suggested above, treatments does count on the characteristics of the beast. That said, I had my first bout with met's to my lung (and liver) 4 years ago. I was treated with carboplaten, taxatere and Herceptin. After 3 months, The liver met's were gone and the lung met's were half the size. Another 3 months of treatment, and all was clear!! It was 3 1/2 years later when the met's came back to my lung again. I've been on Herceptin and Fasalodex since the reoccurance and the met's are half the size without chemo (for those that don't know, Herceptin is not chemo). So, it's been nearly nine years since being diagnosed as stage IV and 4 1/2 years since getting met's. I am still here!!! Your a good friend. I hope you can get pathology info so that you can help your friend make decisions in her treatment...

[CLTann]

I have been busy in helping my dear friend half way across the globe. Her pet scan results showed that her new cancer is not in the lung, but in the bone right below the cranial area. We have yet to determine whether it is breast cancer mets. Long distance care sure is difficult, with language and time zone difference, as well as the awkward communication with her onc. Stay tuned. Thanks for all you good people's replies.

[Bill]

Ann, you and your friend are in my thoughts and prayers. She is so blessed to have a friend such as you. Needless to say, the type of mets dictates the type of treatment.

[ElaineM]

I never had lung mets, so I don't know from experience, but I read that Navelbine was originally developed for lung cancer and then scientists discovered it could also be used for breast cancer. If it was indeed developed for lung cancer would it be useful to ask the doc about a Navelbine and Herceptin combo?