[Joan M]

Lori,

Sorry to hear that the liver met returned, but I'm glad the result lasted over a year (May 2009-July 2010) with having only short-term chemotherapy. And what's really good is that the PET showed no other nodules.

I'm praying that round #2 of cryoablation works to knock out that pesky met.

Thanks for continuing to update us on this interventional radiology procedure. I'm for such procedures when appropriate. Yet, medical oncologists rarely mention them: I had a lung radiofrequency ablation in August 2008 on the sneak, for a lung nodule recurrence after a lung wedge resection about 16 months prior.

My local onc knew about the RFA, but I did not tell until the 11th hour an onc I was consulting at a major cancer center where I had the procedure. He actually called the IR guy the night before the procedure and asked him, "What are you doing? An RFA is not standard of care for metastatic breast cancer." They "agreed" that this is what the patient -- me -- wanted. Your onc is A-1 in my book.

Unfortunately, I developed a fungal infection in the cavity created by the RFA, a rare occurence, from inhaling a fungas commonly found in soil, probably from gardening in the summer right after the procedure (like your cleaning out the garage), which lead to coughing up blood in February 2009 and a thoracotomy in July 2009. I was admitted from the ER. To stop the bleeding, a thoracic surgeon had to perform another wedge resection to get rid of the fungus. But the path report showed no cancer, only the fungal ball, or mycetoma (or aspergilloma, after the fungus, aspergillus).

In the fight against cancer, I believe that every stone should be turned over, even though in some instances local procedures are not possible, as you mentioned, due to proximity to major arteries, nerves, etc. Thankfully, yours is possible.

Good luck with round #2, and let us know what happens.

Joan