Liver Met question

goops · 07-06-2008, 03:12 PM

I have to go for a biopsy on Monday the 14th. My doctor said they have to check the mass out because of my history. I asked him what else it could be other than cancer and he said it is possible that it is a infection. In the last couple of weeks I have had two low grade fevers - today my fever is over 102.

This makes me suspect that it is an infection instead of a met - my question to the people here with liver mets is do they ever cause you to have a fever?

When I googled fever it said the number one cause is infection. I also saw it listed very low in the symptoms of liver mets.

Does anyone here have fevers as a symptom of their mets?

chrisy · 07-07-2008, 09:12 AM

Ok,

Now I can perhaps give you a more encouraging response than last time!

I was dx with extensive liver mets in 2004. Not only did I not have a fever, I also had very little in the way of any symptoms at all.

Sounding more like an infection which certainly wouldn't be fun but at least it isn't cancer.

Any way you can get that biopsy bumped up so you don't have to wait so long - especially now that you have "symptoms" to complain about? It was one thing to schedule it out a couple of weeks when it was just a follow up on questionable scan.

Hang in there

goops · 07-07-2008, 09:24 AM

Originally the doctor ordered a ultra-sound guided scan, they said there first opening was a month a way. It was only after the doctor said a CT scan was OK that they moved it up.

I do see that it is a possible symptom of liver mets - but I am really hoping it means an infection.

Thank you Chrisy for your information.

StephN · 07-07-2008, 10:50 AM

Hi Goops -
(Love your avatar, BTW.)

My sister just had a 4 or 5 day bout with a fever. Feeling tired, but no other symptoms to really complain of. She just took Tylenol and lots of liquids to help break her fever, which was intermittent and topped out close to 102. Her doc had no ideas as to why, but said our bodies have to fight back once in a while and a fever is what happens then.

When I had really extensive liver mets, I don't recall a fever, just an ache in my right side that was not evident until I had HUGE tumors! AND my liver functions were still all in normal range. (My onc interpreted this as meaning that the part of my liver that was healthy was REALLY healthy and functioning well.)

A PET scan should tell them what you have.

P.S. I never needed a biopsy as by the time I had my 3-month checkup, the tumors were rampant and there was no question. My CA27-29 marker was only up to 61 with about 60% of my liver affected by tumors. That marker did go higher once treatment was underway.

goops · 07-07-2008, 10:56 AM

Thanks Steph, my liver function test has kept going up but the doctors thought it was due to first chemo and now Herceptin.

Bill · 07-07-2008, 05:51 PM

Hi Goops! Nicola had no fever from her liver mets.

goops · 07-07-2008, 07:27 PM

Thank you Bill.