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04-21-2008, 08:07 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 203
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Liver Update - $#%#@& Gallbladder
So, you may remember that I had been posting about my liver enzymes running high for about three months, and my onc not being overly concerned, but waiting to talk to my GI (I have Crohn's) about it.
Sure enough, the nite before the GI would be back, I had an acute attack of pain, nausea, vomiting and my bowels shut down entirely. I also had tightness around my chest. My sister was visiting, and I told her if vicoding could get me through the nite, I'd rather go see the GI in the AM than go to the ER in the middle of the nite. So that's what we did. BTW, I was pretty sure I was not having a heart attack, and my sister had a gallbladder attack last year with chest tightness.
My regular GI was of course, crazy busy, so I saw one of his junior partners. I was terrified that it was an obstruction or cancer in my liver. They did an EKG, normal, and blood, normal, off to the radiology center for an ultrasound. DX: bug fat ugly gallbladder that needs to come out. Was admitted to hospital, finally put on pain meds and antibiotics and surgery the next day.
They were sceptical that they would be able to do the surgery laparoscopically b/c I have a lot of scar tissue from other surgeries. But I made that my intention as I was wheeling into surgery, and though it took them four hours, they were able to do it. So now I only feel like a horse has trampled me.
Interesting note for all my friends here: It never occurred to my GI that I was worried about liver mets! When my onc's jr. partner stopped by, he said, thank god it wasn't mets, he totally got it. So even though it is absolutely top of mind for all of us, it's not for all the doctors we run across. Crazy.
So surgery Fri, released Sunday, home resting. Should be back to work next week. And my liver enzymes were already getting back to normal while I was in the hospital.
Rebecca
__________________
Dx 8/06 Age 43 Stage IIIA multifocal throughout breast, largest tumor 5 cm, grade 3, comedo, ER+PR+HER+++
Neoadjuvant A/C 4X Dose Dense
11/06 Bilateral Mastectomy (no choice on the right, my choice on the left)
Taxol+Herceptin weekly x12, continuing with Herceptin, finished one year in 12/07
33 Rads
Femara for 5+ years, staying on (started with Arimidex, switched after about a month, much happier)
Abnormal brain MRI shows no cancer, but "extensive white matter diease" - unknown cause
BRCA negative - lots of cancer in my family
survivor of thyroid cancer
also have Crohn's disease
CT and bone scan say NED as of 5/13
dx with severe cardiomyopathy 5/12 (likely due to chemo and Herceptin), ejection fraction in low 20's, now up to 40, went to 50, latest read 12/13 is back down to 35
1/13 Acute pancreatitis - are you kidding me?
9/13 started Humira for Crohn's. starting to have some energy again
B12 and Vit D both needed supplementation
Cataracts in both eyes noted 6/12 - surgery in the next 2-4 years?
4/14 Kidney stones/blockage/infection - related to Crohn's Disease
5/14 My aunt passed away - she was diagnosed after I was with Stage I - not Her2+, then Stage 4 for about one year
6/14 Scans - still NED, thank God. However, broken rib (I didn't notice) lots of bone degeneration osteopenia/osteoporosis. I also still have cardiomyopathy secondary to chemo.
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04-21-2008, 08:12 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: CHARLOTTE NC USA
Home town (ECUADOR) South America
Posts: 542
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oh is a good news after all....great ...congratulations ...
__________________
Lily Diag April/06 5 months after give birth my son Max stage IV mets on liver (5 tumors) 38 year old, her2+++ and ER+PR+ from32 nodes 4 positives mastectomy right breast chemo before surgery herceptin/carboplatin/taxotere ,clear and surgery have radiation 20, `& then herceptin and tamoxifen NED until Aug/07 body only then 'n June 04-06-07 .1 lesion of 1.6 cm on cerebellum ...novalis ,open sugery 5m.m brain met again novalis, 4mm.In the liver. Waiting 2 months now 3 tumors enroll on T-MCC trial start first infusion Nov 5/07 at Dec 17 scan show one tumor despair the 2nd and 3th diminish Doc said great results until March/08 ct scan show progression 03-05-08 start tykerb & xeloda
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04-21-2008, 08:35 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Lincoln, Rhode Island
Posts: 371
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Dear Rebecca,
I agree with Lily GREAT NEWS!. And I am so happy your liver enzymes are getting better also. Take good care of yourself.
Love Karen
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Love and Hope
Karen
IDC
DX 1998 STAGE I ER+/ PR+
AC CHEMO TILL FEB 1999
Tamxofin till 2001
2001 exstensive liver mets and mets to lungs
Started weekly taxol
Jan 2002 found out I was strongly HER2POS+++ started herceptin continued with taxol and herceptin till June 2002 then from June 2002 till Jan 2005 just herceptin and Arimidex
2005 Navelbine herceptin had RFA Then back on taxol with herceptin
April 2006 progression again went on clinical trial with tykrerb/herceptin progressed on the started Xeloda/ herceptin
Feb 2007 started Doxil
August 2007 Taxotere,Carboplatin and Herceptin exstensive mets to liver and pancreas
October 2007 Had to stop Carboplatin due to sever allergic reaction
Jan 2008
Stopped Taxotere due to progression now on Gemzar and Herceptin
March 2008 Starting Carboplatin, Abraxane, and Herceptin.
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04-21-2008, 08:51 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
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Rebecca -
What a world we BC survivors live in - we are HAPPY to have a gallbladder attack and surgery - hey it's better than you know what!!!
Thanks for posting your "great" news.
Take it easy while you recover.
all the best
caya
__________________
ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08
Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
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04-21-2008, 09:41 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 2,077
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Rebecca, I'm sorry about the pain you had to go through, but I'm so glad it wasn't mets, and it is really amazing that the docs. don't consider your worries about that. Prayers for you and yours, Bill
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04-21-2008, 11:30 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 232
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Thank goodness... good news.
Hope you are feeling better soon.
Karen
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04-22-2008, 12:01 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
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Whew Rebecca!!! What a scare but thank goodness it was your gallbladder. Knowing that, doesn't it make recovery, dispite the pain, that much easier to bear??!!
God bess.....
Maryanne
__________________
*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE
1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen
2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy
2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
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04-22-2008, 05:37 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 203
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Thanks for the support, friends.
My younger son, 14 and so sensitive it hurts, is just distraught - like, when will it ever stop? I can't blame him, and I can't promise him anything. I breaks my heart.
__________________
Dx 8/06 Age 43 Stage IIIA multifocal throughout breast, largest tumor 5 cm, grade 3, comedo, ER+PR+HER+++
Neoadjuvant A/C 4X Dose Dense
11/06 Bilateral Mastectomy (no choice on the right, my choice on the left)
Taxol+Herceptin weekly x12, continuing with Herceptin, finished one year in 12/07
33 Rads
Femara for 5+ years, staying on (started with Arimidex, switched after about a month, much happier)
Abnormal brain MRI shows no cancer, but "extensive white matter diease" - unknown cause
BRCA negative - lots of cancer in my family
survivor of thyroid cancer
also have Crohn's disease
CT and bone scan say NED as of 5/13
dx with severe cardiomyopathy 5/12 (likely due to chemo and Herceptin), ejection fraction in low 20's, now up to 40, went to 50, latest read 12/13 is back down to 35
1/13 Acute pancreatitis - are you kidding me?
9/13 started Humira for Crohn's. starting to have some energy again
B12 and Vit D both needed supplementation
Cataracts in both eyes noted 6/12 - surgery in the next 2-4 years?
4/14 Kidney stones/blockage/infection - related to Crohn's Disease
5/14 My aunt passed away - she was diagnosed after I was with Stage I - not Her2+, then Stage 4 for about one year
6/14 Scans - still NED, thank God. However, broken rib (I didn't notice) lots of bone degeneration osteopenia/osteoporosis. I also still have cardiomyopathy secondary to chemo.
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04-22-2008, 07:24 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Evergreen, Colorado
Posts: 454
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Rebecca,
That is fantastic news.
I posted as a fellow liver mets gal and have been thinking of you frequently. What a relief that it wasn't a cancer flare up and the issue could be resolved!!!
We also share in having a compassionate 14 year old child. (mine is a 15 year old girl). I know that we will win this war because we simply have to....we will be here for them.
I go to the onc on Thursday for my regularly scheduled 3 week Herceptin infusion. I'll receive a full blood work up at that time and hope that the enzymes that were out of whack were somehow related to a bout of the flu.
Again....congrats and here's to a speedy recovery!!!
__________________
2007
Oct - Diagnosed - Stage IV 5 c.m. IDC - Left Side er/pr- Her2+++ Node + 2/14 - Single Liver Met Double Mastectomy Nov - Begin T+H 2008
Feb-Complete 6 cycles- T&H- NED
March - Continue - Herceptin Only
April - Rads for 6 weeks
2009
Continue Herceptin - Continue NED
April - Recurrance- 3 cm. Liver Met
May - Cryosurgery
June - November - Abraxane + Herceptin
Aug - PET/CT - CTC = 0 Back to NED
2010
January - Continue NED
July - Recurrance - 3 cm Liver Met CTC=1
August - Cryosurgery #2
August - November Navelbine
November - Back to NED - End Navelbine
2011
Feb - Recur - 4 cm Liver Met - Same Left Lobe
March Surgery it is -Couldn't get a clean margin
July - Confirmed continued liver involvement
August - Begin Herceptin + Tykerb
October - Mixed results from H+T
Add Abraxane + H + T - Nov - April
2012
January PET Scan - It's working!!
April - Back to NED
July - Recurrance
August - Begin TDM-1 Trial (Taxol + TDM-1)
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04-22-2008, 08:01 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NY
Posts: 240
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Rebecca I'm so happy you got that gallbladder out and you're on your way to feeling so much better! I had liver enzyme problems - back when I was readmitted to the hospital for difficulty breathing (day 7 after my Diep surgery). A cat scan showed a gallstone - and elevated liver levels - and they started to blame that for my fever. The surgeon was all set to operate on me when the gastroenterologist looked over the report and said the enzymes in question were NOT suggestive of a blocked bile duct and that the stone in my gallbladder was just quietly minding it's own business. (Thank God for this very intelligent man!) My liver enzymes were high due to a staph infection in my abdomen. So I was spared the gall bladder surgery, thank God! I was in enough pain from the Diep surgery!
ANYWAY - when it rains it pours, right? They told me once my abdominal incision heals, they want me to remove the gallbladder. I'm in no hurry - but I hope I never get a bad attack like you did! I've had enough pain the past 2 months to last me a lifetime!
__________________
xxoo
Kathy
2/5/08 - dx age 53, post-menopausal;
IDC Stage 1, Grade 1
ER+ 90% /PR+ 90% /Her2++++, BRAC1 & 2 neg
3/5/08 - mast with muscle-sparing free tram;
0/7 nodes clear; Stage 1 lymphedema in right arm
3/11/08 - MRSA infection in abdomen causes large hernia
4/11/08 - Oncotype DX score 22 (intermediate)
4/12/08 - Muga score 67%
4/23/08 - Chemo, Navelbine and Herceptin every 2 weeks
8/20/08 - Last Navelbine infusion! Yay!
1/22/09 - First mammo since dx - unaffected breast CLEAR!
1/30/09 - Second Muga score 63%
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