liver mets

[cathy]

My sister has multiple liver mets and worsening liver function. She started on Herceptin and Navelbine, but they had to stop the Navelbine due to her liver function. How long can it take with Herceptin, before you can tell if it will help or not?

[Lisa]

I'd think you'd get many answers to your question. Herceptin on its own will work differently than with chemo. Perhpas they will be able to start the Navelbine again. For me, the Navelbine/Herceptin combo has taken since last Sept. to go from a very sick liver with multiple mets to 3 tiny spots. Others have had it work faster. I suppose there is no way of knowing for sure. But DO know that healing can and does happen, yes, even with sick livers.

Love and light,

Lisa

[Steph]

The answer to your question would have many things to factor in. How aggressive (high grade?) is her cancer? How fast is it growing? I had a major problem with liver mets. It took a combo of three drugs to get my liver clean over a 7 month period. Navelbine with Taxol and Herceptin did the job. As my disease was very aggressive and fast moving, Herceptin alone would not have done any more than perhaps stabilize me somewhat until I could get on a program with other drugs.
My prayers that Herceptin will at least arrest the spread while she regains her ability to tolerate some more chemo.
Your sister might try drinking Detox herbal teas to help cleanse her liver. This is not a cure, but can help clean out the "debris" and toxicity of the chemo.

[Kitty]

Cathy,

For me the trick was weekly taxol/carboplatin/herceptin - 11 weeks all but a small scar remained. The chemo really helps and this is a very synergistic combination. Good luck.

Kitty

[Lisa]

Esther,

You'll find several of us with liver mets who are doing great! I know how you feel. I cried for the first three months after my diax of bone and liver mets. I, too, had mets all over, in about 25% of my liver. My tumor marker was around 700. (It's now hovering in the upper 50's). I've been on Navelbine/Herceptin/Zometa since then (Sept. 03) and so far, so good. I get my latest scan in about 2 hours, so I'll let you know, but the last scan showed only 3 tiny spots left! Hoping to see even better today. I always say, study the statistics, choose your course of action, then FORGET THE STATISTICS! Since you're not a number, your response will be yours alone. Continued good luck.

Love and healing light,

Lisa

[judiek]

Esther,

I was dx with extensive mets to lungs and liver in Jan 04. I had completed chemo and rads in May 2003 for initial dx of oct 2002. I have been on a clinical trial of avastin and taxol. Last scan on June 8th showed all liver tumors were shrinking and lung mets were gone. I try not to look at the statistics...it's hard not to. I'm 42 and plan on a long fight. Best of luck to you.

Hope it's ok that I posted...I'm her2 neg.

Warmly,

Judie

[Kitty]

Esther,

I was on 32 weeks of weekly taxol/herceptin/carboplatin which totally wiped out my liver mets and has me NED. I continue on weekly maintenance Herceptin. Good luck.
Kitty

[joy]

Esther, I have had lung and liver mets. One liver met was 7x9cm and there were many more. i did taxotere, xeloda and herceptin (a ton of complementary things too) then i did femara/herceptin and now aromasin/herceptin. I don't have any spots larger than 1.7 cm and there aren't many left at all. I'm a 36 yr old single mama of 2 girls (8&5) and i know the statistics and I don't care. My time here is determined by Me and God and no one else. Remember, by the time statistics are compiled and published, they are already old. many statistics have come come public health entities and are often representing populations that are terribly underserved or barrier-filled and those statistics, sadly, are more grim. Here's a quote from Janet laurel's book "Heart and Soul" ( a great read about stage IV BC thriving), "Statistics: The only science that enables different experts using the same figures to draw different conclusions."-Evan Esar
So do what i had to do and stop looking at statistics and keep researching the new treatment options, advocate for yourself, reach out to others and when you can give back. You are doing great! joy

[Beth]

I was dx with a 6.8 cm liver tumor plus 3 hot spots on my bones in Dec 03, Stage IV. I did not have surgery on my right 5 cm breast tumor. After 10 weeks of Taxol/Herceptin I was NED. I followed up with 10 more weeks of same tx and still I was NED. I have been on weekly Herceptin 5 weeks now and the breast tumour is still NOT THERE. GO SURVIVORS!!!

Continued Health to All,

Beth

[Esther Butler]

Hi all, I was diagnosed with BC in Dec 2001, then with liver mets in Feb 2004. I have been on Navelbine/Herceptin and Xeloda since then. My liver enzymes are pretty much normal and my CA 27-29 has been improving, it went from 375 to 125 in the last 6 weeks.

I generally feel pretty optimistic, but then I also get scared, because in researching liver mets, the statistics often seem pretty grim.

My oncologist calls me his miracle patient because when I went into treatment in Feb, my liver was shutting down, my skin was yellow and I felt awful.

Anybody out there with liver mets who's responded well to treatment?

I have numerous tumors in my liver that cover large portions of it, so that some treatment options aren't open to me.

Thanks for listening...

[Steph N]

Dear Ester -
I know JUST how you feel. I had a fast and furious invastion of tumors to my liver only 6 months after getting off the original chemos for my breast cancer. My liver was full of tumors with 2 as big as my fist (I do not have very large hands!). Over 50% of my liver area, but my liver functions analysis was still in NORMAL range except for one value! My prognosis was not very good - but I am here to tell you that I have been off chemo for TWO years and still NED. You can read about my "battle" in the Stories area of this site. Just click on the photo of me - Stephanie.

There are great drugs to assist our bodies in killing the cancer cells and tumors. Try to relax a little and let them do their work. I encouraged these drugs by giving them instructions like "search and destroy!" And telling my cancer that it can "go away now."

[janelle]

Ester,
I was dx w/liver mets (too numerous to count) in March 2003. I belive the doctor only was thinking in terms of months and wanted me to get my life in order.

Treatments were 4 doses of Adriamiacin and Taxatore... then started Herceptin only in June of 2003 (as a last resort).

Fast forward to June 2004.... Remission.

There is always hope... never give up.

Hugs,
Janelle

[celina]

Hi Esther,
My sister is currently battling a second time with liver mets. She, too, was in a terrible state. Her stomach was extremely enlarged..liver was barely functioning..had to have her stomach drained. She has just completed two treatments of Taxol/Herceptin, had a ultrasound yesterday (she's currently back in hospital due to a mild fever). Scan showed that already the liver is improving...no more fluids and a visible improvement. She is now going to switch to weekly treatments because 3 wk was too hard on her.
All this is to say...YES! despite everything she is improving and doc anticipates the treatment will continue to be effective. Now we just have to deal with the brain mets!

[Deb F]

Breast cancer discovered in 2000. Dec 2000 started on Taxotere, Aredia and Herceptin due to bone mets. Aug 2004 CT scan is revealing 2 spots on the liver. Tomorrow a PET scan will be done. What have some of your treatment schedules been when new mets happen. God Bless all of you! Love, Deb

[eric]

for liver and lung mets my wife was put on gemzar and herceptin.

[Steph N]

Sorry to hear mets are back, but you can chase them out, I am sure. I was successful on Navelbine and Taxol, along with Herceptin. Been NED for over 2 years. Hope the PET will not find much else, and you will only have those couple of spots to deal with.

[al from Canada]

My wife Linda has so far enjoyed tremendous success with navilbine + herceptine.
Wishing you the best,
Al

[Deb F]

Eric, How long was it that your wife started on Herceptin? Has she had any other chemo? When was the cancer discovered? I hope that all is going well for her. When did she start on the Gemzar/Herceptin combination? God Bless you both. Deb F

[Deb F]

Al, Thanks for your response. Please look at the questions that I asked Eric in response to his respone. Then please respond to those questions that refer to Linda. Thanks. Deb F

[Deb F]

Thanks, Steph! The last bone scan in April the hot spots were stable. They have been that way since Dec of 2000. We have been very grateful. I am looking forward to the PET scan to see where we are in the cancer situtation. Bless you. Deb F

[Lisa]

Deb,

Sorry you're back in the battle. But at least it's one you can win! I was diax with recurrence in Sept. 03 to liver (25% involvement) and bones (multiple). I was treated with Navelbine/Herceptin and Zometa for bones weekly for 3 months, then every other week for another 6. The liver mets shrank down to 3 tiny spots that are stable and we're watching. CT scans seem to be the most reliable scan for liver.

Do keep us posted.

Love and healing light,

Lisa

[al from Canada]

Hi Deb,
I'm sorry to hear about your situation.
After dx, Linda had 4X AC and 4X taxol every 2 weeks, to shrink or down-stage her tumor. It was 10 - 12 cm, very large and aggressive and she didn't notice it until it hardened, (obviously too late). She had a lumpectomy; the tumor now 1cm., and after 4 weeks started radiation. She was 3 days into the rads when she crashed from lack of energy. The docs fast tracked her through tests (on a friday)and on Monday, we were told that 80% of her liver was cancerous and unless she responded to treatment immediately; she had 2 weeks to live. Talk about your life passing before your eyes!
The onc, with much consultation and second opinions, put her on herceptine + navelbine + xeloda + celebrex (2X day) and neupogen (1X day) that same day. 4 days later she jaundiced. I read the drug info and voluntarily pulled the xeloda because of its drug history of liver toxicity. I tried to get her into a clinical trial but she was too sick to qualify. I also put her on 320 mg. of Co-Q10 / day and 2 grams of Coumarin / day as both are proven anti-tumor agents. That was 4 months ago. Two weeks ago the docs cut back the navilbine from weekly to 3X per month due to low blood counts and suspected nerve damage in her wrists. She is now also on weekly Eprex shots for her RBC counts as well. He also put her on ritalin for energy and that has made a huge difference in Q.O.L. She will be on chemo for at least another 3 months when they will stop the navelbine and keep her on Herceptine. They have categorized her as "stable liver disease" which doesn't really make me happy but we are researching other options.
I hope this is helpful for you. Stay positive and strong because I think outlook has a lot to do with recovery. Linda knew very well how sick she was but NEVER doubted her recovery. In my next life, I want to have as much strength as my wife.
Take care,
Al

[Deb F]

Lisa, Thanks for sharing! That is great that all is stable for you now. Are you on any meds now?
Love, Deb F

[Deb F]

Al, Thanks for all of the info. You are right Linda is quite a woman. With all that she has gone through it gives me great encouragement. God has a plan and who am I to question it. May He continue to bless and strengthen you two. Deb F

[Lisa S.]

I have bone mets and I take Doxil and Herceptin. Aredia too....
Seems to be working so far....I pray I get some time out of this one!

[Lisa S]

Whoops, wrong Lisa, but anyway thats what I take!

[celina]

Xeloda is considered toxic to the liver? Why on earth would doctors be recommending this for liver mets? My sister's doctor mentioned possibly putting her on it at a later date if necessary. I'm glad you mentioned this,Al. Where can I get more info on this topic?
p.s. so happy about your wife's progress... may she stay "stable" for many, many, many years to come!