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chrisy · 08-22-2006, 07:08 PM

Hi Julierene,

I've been wondering if you had gotten any further news.

Now it seems that this may not be progression at all. Is this something that you may have seen "shrinking" all along on an MRI - you just didn't have those as follow up? This has never been, and still is not, visible on the PET/CT. I would think a lesion of this size would be visible if it were cancerous.

It can take some months for necrosis and scar tissue to resolve, even after you've stopped chemo. For me, I still had quite a bit of "stuff" showing on the CT just after I finished chemo - 4 months later it was all gone* (*except for my stubborn stable <5mm "area of interest" that no doctor will even entertain!).

So, you have something that sounds like bad news (MRI) up against something that sounds like continued good news (PET/CT) With the likelihood that this is NOT active tumor since it didn't light up on the PET, I'd be surprised if your oncologist would recommend firing up the chemo without further confirmation!

What DOES your oncologist say?

I know it's hard not to worry and think the worst - but checking it out again in a couple months might, as Steph said, show further shrinkage or maybe even a disappearing act!

Take care
Chris

08-22-2006, 07:08 PM	#4
chrisy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 3,207	Hi Julierene, I've been wondering if you had gotten any further news. Now it seems that this may not be progression at all. Is this something that you may have seen "shrinking" all along on an MRI - you just didn't have those as follow up? This has never been, and still is not, visible on the PET/CT. I would think a lesion of this size would be visible if it were cancerous. It can take some months for necrosis and scar tissue to resolve, even after you've stopped chemo. For me, I still had quite a bit of "stuff" showing on the CT just after I finished chemo - 4 months later it was all gone* (*except for my stubborn stable <5mm "area of interest" that no doctor will even entertain!). So, you have something that sounds like bad news (MRI) up against something that sounds like continued good news (PET/CT) With the likelihood that this is NOT active tumor since it didn't light up on the PET, I'd be surprised if your oncologist would recommend firing up the chemo without further confirmation! What DOES your oncologist say? I know it's hard not to worry and think the worst - but checking it out again in a couple months might, as Steph said, show further shrinkage or maybe even a disappearing act! 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