Goops, Liver Biopsy
 

Hi Goops, just wondering how your biopsy went yesterday? Praying that all is fine.

Goops I was thinking of you also although did'nt remember it was yesterday so thanks Yorkie girl. Hope it all went well with good and hopefully benign results!

Thanks for asking - I will not have the official results until I see the doctor tomorrow. I am not very hopeful, I asked the radiologist how often these biopsies come back cancer free and he said it is very rare.

I was pretty sick last week and had hoped that it was what was causing the liver problems but my oncologist felt I just had the flu.

Goops....thinking of you too...fingers crossed...

Goops,

I am sending good thoughts from Texas also. Please take good care of yourself.

My biopsy came back bad - I have 1 fairly large tumor and then some tiny ones.

I was relieved that the doctor was not recommending chemo at this time - she thinks my best bet is a study of fulvestrant with or without Lapatinib. She explained that if I get the placebo and my disease starts to progress they will give me lapatinib then.

Goops, I'm sorry to hear the bad news. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. For what it's worth, Nicola was dx'ed with liver mets in Dec, 2005 and volunteered for a Taxol/Lapatinib study along with Herceptin. She did great, with steady tumour shrinkage for about 15 months. I'm not a doctor, and I know nothing of Fulvestrant, but in my opinion, honey, and I'm going to be frank and straight-up here, what your doctor has recommended does not sound like your "best bet". I'm sorry, I don't know if you've had herceptin or not, and I can't remember your earlier treatments, but in my layman's opinion, you need a second and third opinion. Please keep in touch. Hugs to you, Bill

Dear goops,

Doggone it. I am hopeful that you will find the right combo to kick the mets to the curb. There are many knowledgable folks here that may be able to advise on tx plans.

Hugs and Prayers,
Lexi

Thank you for the good wishes - and as for Herceptin I was just 3 treatments short of finishing - Herceptin obviously did not work for me so they are discontinuing it. I also already had Taxol.

goops,

I am very sorry about your recent results. Are they going to recheck your receptors again? Sometimes they switch and if they are ER/PR positive that could be to your advantage. Also, I agree with Bill that a second opinion is in order. Another thought is that Herceptin is still given along with another agent even if you have progressed on it.

I know so much is going right now. Please know that we are praying for you and for your medical team.

Hugs,
Tonya

Goops I'm so sorry to hear of your results. You will remain in my prayers. I certainly hope your treatment will started soon.

Hi Goops! Me too! I wish your results were better, but I know that you will investigate and find a promising course of treatment and fight like crazy! Well wishes and many prayers from the Texas coast. ma

Goops, Darn it all! I am so sorry you have to deal with this. But I agree with PinkGirl, Bill and others that you should get a 2nd and even 3rd opinion. You need to hear all your options...plus its important to have peace of mind when battling this diease. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. You hang in there and keep us updated when you can.

Chelee

Goops,

You will be in my prayers.

Amelia

Hi Goops
 

I'm sorry your results weren't better but am glad to see the others responding with their insightful comments and questions. I wish I had some advice, but I don't except that you should get well, be well, and stay well. Good luck, and best wishes in your journey.

I appreciate everyone's input and good wishes. Thanks

Guess you and I can chat under this thread. :)
So glad to hear from you. I remember reading postings from several members who have had tumors in the liver - they either have got rid of it or have been having it under control. Let's hear from them.

Yes - I would love to hear some positive liver stories.

Your life is not over
 

Goops,

Sorry I have not seen this post, I've been at my 12 YO niece's birthday party in Chicago all weekend...

First let me say , well $&*T!

Second, let me say that although this is obviously not the news any of us wanted for you, your life is not over!

I remember like it was yesterday when I was diagnosed with extensive liver mets (after an original diagnosis of DCIS only). It was the most devastating day of my life. That was nearly 4 years ago. Do not lose heart.

You have treatment options which can still work well for you. I'm sure your oncologist has your best interests at heart and wants you to do well. He/she obviously knows the specifics of your situation better than we do. However I'm also concerned as others have noted, because you DO have symptoms - indications that the cancer may be interfering with your liver's healthy functioning. So it's a bit scary as you need to get control of it, and the questions bear asking.

I also wonder if you have gotten second opinion (or third as some have suggested). You do want to be sure you've considered all your options.

That said, Fulvestrant is not an unproven therapy - it's an approved treatment for ER+ metastatic cancer. And blocking the ER pathway PLUS Her1 and Her2 is a good concept - so this trial is actually quite interesting.

Although most people's initial reaction to a diagnosis of liver mets is to blast the living daylights out of it, it may indeed be reasonable to try a less aggressive approach - if your disease is minimal and easily monitored.

To me, this is key because you definitely want to gain control of the disease in the liver. Although you describe 1 "large" and several "smaller" mets, you don't know how fast it is growing. So especially if you are in a placebo comparison trial, you must be vigilant so you can move on quickly if need be.

It is important that you do get multiple opinions - and that you trust your team. You will make the right decision for you.

Just know that we are all here to help you in any way we can, we care about you and are praying for you.

Love
Chris

Thanks Chrisy - I considered getting a 2nd opinion but I do not care to deal with either of the other 2 oncologists where I receive treatment. It would take me weeks to see an Oncologist at the only other hospital in town and they are a hospital in which I have no faith in.

All of their internal Medicine doctors quit over policies that dictated that they spend only a few minutes with each patient. That hospital has proven over and over that they don't really care about their patients. I do have faith in my current oncologist.

My doctor believes that my symptoms were the flu. Since I no longer have a high fever, he is probably right.

Goops,
I am sorry to hear of your liver biopsy results. I am in complete support with those that are recommending a second opinion.
Sending you lots of aloha,
Maryanne

Fulvestrant = Faslodex
 

Hi,

Thought this might be helpful - in the thread about Faslodex (Fulvestrant)


http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=34824

Goops
Listen to Chrisy...she is like the expert resident in liver treatments....to see her you would never know that she has this battle...she is so healthy looking and full of energy....do get another opinion or 2 if you can....at least you will feel comfortable with your course of action....you are in my thoughts and prayers......

Thank you for posting that thread Chrisy, it is kind of funny because the woman who started it "Janet Taylor" has the same name as me.

It is nice to see that people have tolerated the drug well.