ablation of liver mets

I have secondary breast cancer, bones and lymph. Had EC and radiotherpy Disease active again, started Taxol. Its working on lymph, some bones but I have liver mets and new bone mets
Considering liver ablation and Taxol/Avastin therapy
Anyone doing the same or had the same problems
If you had ablation, where did you have it

Hi mills

I have just a solitary liver met and am currently 2/3 of the way through 18 sessions of Taxol and Avastin (given weely with every 4th week “off” to recover). My met is quite large (5cm +) and very close to the main vein in the liver but they are hoping that it will shrink away from the vein enough for surgery - a liver resection. I’ve seen a liver surgeon in Guildford. I think liver ablation again might be an option if the liver resection can’t be done though that too might be affected by the closeness to the vein. So can’t tell you much about ablation - though there have been other postings talking about it since I became a more regular mmember of this forum a few months ago, if you search - but could give you some info about the taxol/avastin combo? Again there are a few others who are now having Avastin or about to start it - it’s really only just becoming available in this country.

Let me know if you want some more specific info. Kay x

Kay
cna you give me more info in Avastin/Taxol
Did you pay for it or did the NHS
How is it working for you

Mills,
have just posted on another thread am about to start avastin and taxol next week … Kay is a little further along so she will give you up to date info… I cant have ablation as too much disease all over liver so hoping for shrinkage for comfort at least…

Hi Mills

I’m lucky that my hubby has medical insurance through his work so Norwich Union have funded it. I believe it is (though licensed) still waiting for NICE’s approval (or not) so it’s upto individual Health AUthorities whether it’s funded on the NHS or you could try to get onto one of the trials.

In terms of how its working it’s hard to say really. I was the first patient my onc had on this combination and I think he was certain it was going to be really effective. I had a scan half way through which did show shrinkage but he clearly was initially disappointed - if I am going to be able to have the liver resection (which is my best hope I believe) it needs to shrink away from the vein. There has been shrinkage but not as much as he would have liked or hoped for - his initial response. I must say when I’ve seen him at my last 3 chemos, he’s been more upbeat about it and my blood tests show my tumour markers dropping in big steps, so if it isn’t shrinking at a fast right it is much less active. He now seems more hopeful (or is trying to keep me positive?!) that it will continue to shrink and that by December when I will have completed the 18 cycles there will have been substantial shrinkage. So can let you know when I have my scan then. All the research does indicate though that Avastin is one of the newest and best drugs to be given and because it (like Herceptin) works in a different way to Taxol and the other chemo drugs the combo of the two attacks the tumour doubly hard.

I also can’t say whether I have any side-effects specific to Avastin - I do have side effects but they seem linked to the Taxol. Some neuropathy (numbness) in my fingers and toes, losing some of my nails, lost my hair, increasingly tired, low white blood count (I have neulasta to boost that every cycle of 3 treatments), slightly anaemic, slightly raised blood pressure and breathless when I go uphill. I also have indigestion (lansoprazole deals with that) but have had very little nausea (just if I forget to take the domperadone in the first few days) and no feelings of actual sickness. I’ve dropped all other anti-sickness medicines except for the steroids they give me iv prior to the taxol and avastin. It sounds quite a long list of side effects (the nails are probably the worst thing for me) but I’m pretty active still, working 12-15 hours a week as a speech therapist with preschool children in a nursery (you have to be pretty active to keep up with them!), and still try and walk quite frequently (I’m a keen long distance path walker) - I’m down to walks of 4-5 miles with no hills now, but in AUgust still managed to climb some mountains in the Lakes. So it’s not so bad really!

Hope that helps K