New member. Question for adrenal gland mets

[sharonf]

Hi all,



I am new to this site and am a caregiver for my mother who is 80 years old with metastatic breast cancer.



Brief history about her bc:

Dx in 8/2003, Stage IIA, ER-/PR-, her2neu+++, lumpectomy, radiation only

Recurrence to lymph nodes above collarbone 10/2004

Started Navelbine+Herceptin 1/2005. (The very 1st weekly infusion took care of the lymph nodes, NED since then)

Switched to weekly Taxotere+Herceptin after 2nd infusion due to severe side effects from Navelbine

On Herceptin only since 6/2005



Then the upsetting news came - latest Chest CT scan shows that "a possible nodule measuring 1.5 X 1.0 cm appeared to the left adrenal gland". Lung, liver, and brain are clear. Her doctor choose to wait and see how it grows in three months before making treatment decision.



Has anyone had metastasis to adrenal gland? How critical it is to one’s survival and how is that normally treated (or is it treatable)?



Any information or comment you have will be greatly appreciated!



Sharon

[Montana]

My CAT scan showed a 1.6 cm somewhat hypodense entity in the left adrenal gland. They re-scanned again in 6 months and decided it was an adrenal adenoma (benign). Hopefully, for your mom, it will be benign, also.

[sharonf]

Hi Montana,

Thanks for replying. Did this adrenal adenomo appeared as something new when compared with previous scan, or it has always been there? Did your doctor give you any explanation why it appeared?

Thanks,
Sharon

[Montana]

They found it on my first CT scan last September along with other spots in liver and kidney. All were deemed "cysts" due to no growth in the 6 month interval between scans. I was never able to find much information regarding mets to the adrenal gland from bc.

Welcome to the site, Sharon. There are some extremely intelligent and dedicated people here that can probably answer your questions and concerns better than I.

[sharonf]

Just thought to give an update: My mom had another CT scan of the abdomen, and this time the adrenal mass is no longer visible. The doctor couldn't give me a good explanation. I wonder if the previous scan result was simply false-positive (since it did say "a possible nodule"), or it was a benign one that comes and goes, or all the supplements I had my mom taken in the past three months worked? I guess I'll never know...

[Sandy H]

Sharon some times we never know the answer but the important thing here is it is gone which is great news! Perhaps, a follow up scan is due in a few months to make sure it is really gone. hugs, Sandy