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Rich,
How many infusions has mom had? Just the one?
It sounds like she had a scan 3 weeks prior to treatment, then one a few days after. If that showed progression, it would seem more likely to be showing growth in the interval between the initial scan and the treatment than results after 3 days.
It can take some time for scans to reflect what is going on and, as Lee says, it is going to be different in each individual case. On a CT scan, the lesion can stay the same size even when the chemo is working as the scan can't differentiate well between "live" and "dead" tumors.
Changes in liver functions as well as tumor markers are also not definitive - if they go up it could be treatment related or in the case of tumor markers, could even indicate the chemo is working. So "up" is not necessarily related to cancer progression. But I would think "down" is a good sign.
So, I agree it can take time to know what's going on. I'm curious however on what the new CT showed compared to the one 3 days after.
I still think the top priority is to gain control over her symptoms, whether they are being caused by the treatment or the disease. Watching your mom suffer as she is currently must be unbearable - just as the thought of losing her is unthinkable. She needs both the physical resources and the will to continue; managing the symptoms is key to both.
Much love
Chris
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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
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