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Joan M · 07-30-2010, 02:49 PM

Laurie,

I know the feeling of learning that your breast cancer has spread. It's what we fear the most.

Is it possible to have the liver lesion surgically removed, or treated with radiofrequency ablation (that's radio waves, not radiation), or cryoablation (freezing the tumor)?

Oncologists rarely mention these procedures, but several women on this board have had them.

I had a lung wedge resection when my bc first occurred. There was one small tumor in my lung. The tumor recurred a year later, and I had an RFA. In my case, and a rare event, a fungus grew in the cavity caused my the RFA and I ended up having to have another lung surgery. But, and that's a big but, there was only a fungal ball in the cavity and no cancer according to the pathology report. So, I've been cancer-free since October 2008.

Just a thought on how you might proceed.

Joan

07-30-2010, 02:49 PM	#30
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Re: Bad News Laurie, I know the feeling of learning that your breast cancer has spread. It's what we fear the most. Is it possible to have the liver lesion surgically removed, or treated with radiofrequency ablation (that's radio waves, not radiation), or cryoablation (freezing the tumor)? Oncologists rarely mention these procedures, but several women on this board have had them. I had a lung wedge resection when my bc first occurred. There was one small tumor in my lung. The tumor recurred a year later, and I had an RFA. In my case, and a rare event, a fungus grew in the cavity caused my the RFA and I ended up having to have another lung surgery. But, and that's a big but, there was only a fungal ball in the cavity and no cancer according to the pathology report. So, I've been cancer-free since October 2008. Just a thought on how you might proceed. 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 2023 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!!