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Joan M · 09-24-2011, 08:04 AM

Lori,

Thanks for your post and update. I'm sorry that the cancer has returned to your liver, and hopefully the Herceptin and Tykerb will beat it back. It's good that the cancer has stayed confined to the liver!

I've also had thoughts about chemo not being able to penetrate scar tissue, and sometimes wonder whether that was the cause of skin mets often appearing first along the scar line of a mastectomy. I too worry about my lung in this regard. That is, if the cancer were to return in the lung and I went on chemo, would all the scar tissue cause a problem. It's good to know that your onc has had similar thoughts about scar tissue.

Regarding scar tissue and lymph node involvement, I often wonder why more hasn't been done to administer chemo neoadjuvantly. I would think that it would give oncs an idea of which chemos are working and which aren't. Several trials have looked at administering Herceptin, Tykerb, and chemo neoadjuvantly (CHER-LOB and TBCRC 006 trial). They were reported on at ASCO 2011:

http://chicago2011.asco.org/ASCODail...HER2Study.aspx

The nodes involved were probably not picked up in PET because they were too small to light up. A nodule usually has to be about 1 cm.

Keep us posted, and I'm praying for NED!

Joan

09-24-2011, 08:04 AM	#20
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Re: Liver Resection Surgery Lori, Thanks for your post and update. I'm sorry that the cancer has returned to your liver, and hopefully the Herceptin and Tykerb will beat it back. It's good that the cancer has stayed confined to the liver! I've also had thoughts about chemo not being able to penetrate scar tissue, and sometimes wonder whether that was the cause of skin mets often appearing first along the scar line of a mastectomy. I too worry about my lung in this regard. That is, if the cancer were to return in the lung and I went on chemo, would all the scar tissue cause a problem. It's good to know that your onc has had similar thoughts about scar tissue. Regarding scar tissue and lymph node involvement, I often wonder why more hasn't been done to administer chemo neoadjuvantly. I would think that it would give oncs an idea of which chemos are working and which aren't. Several trials have looked at administering Herceptin, Tykerb, and chemo neoadjuvantly (CHER-LOB and TBCRC 006 trial). They were reported on at ASCO 2011: http://chicago2011.asco.org/ASCODail...HER2Study.aspx The nodes involved were probably not picked up in PET because they were too small to light up. A nodule usually has to be about 1 cm. Keep us posted, and I'm praying for NED! Joan __________________ Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2021 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!!