HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Liver lesions -hemangiomas

chrisy · 09-09-2010, 04:53 PM

Hi Maria,
Believe it or not, I'm actually going to side with your oncologist. Hemangiomias are not cancer, nor do they "become" cancer. So absent symptoms, I wouldn't worry about it. Remember, these have actually been there since 2007, unchanged. And I believe they are easily differentiated from cancer - that is, they would not generally misread one as the other.

You can easily add liver function tests to your follow up - but again, this is not really an effective way to diagnose cancer - my lft's were normal when I was diagnosed with extensive liver mets - and they can fluctuate based on diet, medications etc.

It's up to you - I know how important it is to be sure you've covered all the bases. But there's also something to be said for "if your oncologist is happy, you should be happy"

Take care
Chris

09-09-2010, 04:53 PM	#4
chrisy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 3,207	Re: Liver lesions -hemangiomas Hi Maria, Believe it or not, I'm actually going to side with your oncologist. Hemangiomias are not cancer, nor do they "become" cancer. So absent symptoms, I wouldn't worry about it. Remember, these have actually been there since 2007, unchanged. And I believe they are easily differentiated from cancer - that is, they would not generally misread one as the other. You can easily add liver function tests to your follow up - but again, this is not really an effective way to diagnose cancer - my lft's were normal when I was diagnosed with extensive liver mets - and they can fluctuate based on diet, medications etc. It's up to you - I know how important it is to be sure you've covered all the bases. But there's also something to be said for "if your oncologist is happy, you should be happy" Take care Chris __________________ Chris in Scotts Valley June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?" 9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++ 10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response! 04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED 04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial 06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin 01/08 Progression in liver 02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial 08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1 02/09 Continue NED 02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED 12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver 07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:( 12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:( 03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial 5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!! 8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!) 9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3 11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc 11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go. 2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go. 3/13 TACE procedure