Hi
was diagnosed with BC in January and have had radiotherapy,chemo, lump removed and am now on heceptin and something else that I cant spell.Have just found a new lump in the other boob and have been told that there is something on or around my liver(I am thinking oh great)I am booked in for an urgent scan tomorrow and must admit that I am worried sick and don’t know what to do with myself .
I really don’t know what to think anymore it just seems like one thing after another at the moment.What I want to know is if this is all cancer again can it be cured.I know that is a difficult question for anyone to answer ,but has anyone out there been cured of liver secondaries
Welcome to the forums, I am sorry to read that you have this worry and wanted to let you know about our helpline, you can call free on 0808 800 6000 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-2pm and speak to someone for one to one support and information. I am sure the other forum members will be along soon with support for you too.
I don’t want to lie to you - stage 4 is not curable - BUT you dont know whether or not you are in this position. I am guessing that you have had an ultrasound or maybe something has shown up on a physical exam and they are sending you for a CT ? It is a really scary place to be and I hope that you can get your scan results soon. There have been women on this site who have gone on and found themselves not to have liver mets, Also there are women on this site who have liver mets and the cancer is controlled, and they are leading relatively normal lives…its really crap the whole thing and I am sorry that it is one thing after another for you.
take care, I hope its gos OK tomorrow, let us know what happens, there will be other people along,
Oh Mel, you must be worried sick. I am so glad you only have to wait one more night for your scan - do you know when you will get the results?
We just have to hope that it is nothing to do with the breast cancer and soon you will be looking back on this with relief.
I am so sorry to tell you, in answer to your question, that if you have secondaries such as in the liver, you can never be completely cured, as it means cells have been dispersed around your body through your bloodstream or lymphatic system. I have a tumour on my liver, and have to face the fact that even if they could remove it, the oncologists are all pretty sure that there will be other ‘seeds’ in my body which, given time, would start to grow. However, there are all sorts of treatments that can keep things under control, and herceptin is very effective in some people.
There are lots of us on here living with secondaries in the liver or other parts of our bodies, for many years.
Hang in there, and let us know how you get on
big hug
Jacquie xx
Hi
Yes I had an ultrasound.My lymph node were clear when I had them taken out some months ago…Didn’t know that it could be transported thought the blood stream (probably being a bit thick)
will let you know how I get on but feel like shit at the moment and dont know which way to turn
Hi Mel
sorry you are having to go through the waiting game, as the others have said if it is in the liver it is highly unlikely to be cured. New treatments are being discovered all the time.
I have lots of clusters all over my liver my onc says its like blue cheese. Each time I have chemo it shrinks it back I consider myself lucky it has not spread to other organs. After what was a horrid prognosis I am still here and having fun 4 years on!
Try not to panic and good luck for tomorrow.
Hi everyone
Had my scan today and they also did some biopsy now I just have to wait and see ,but from what they said then they feel that it is secondaries in my liver. All I can think is this could be it I could be dead in six months.But then I think about you Debs and 4 years on you are still here.But then I think of my sister who died of breast cancer at 27.think my mind is a bit of a muddle.Felt I had to go to my sisters grave and luckly a friend of my took me .Did ask Dawn (my sister) to give me a bit of help in fighting this.But don’t know if I have the energy to.
It is all going round and round I think of my kids and what will they do with out me.I know they are not babys ( they are 18,20,22) but will they cope
anyway am going for a soak in th bath.as feeling very low at the moment
So sorry to hear you are going through this crap. I was dx last July with bc and liver mets within 10 days of each other. So now over a year on (hoping for many more) I am still going strong, been to Florida in April and just got back from 2 weeks in Tenerife. So just to let u know that life still goes on and you can enjoy yourself, You never ever forget about the cancer (well I dont) always there in my mind, thinking what ifs and will I still be here for certain things, but you can still push away and have fun. I have 2 children a 4 year old and 20 month old and they keep me sane and keep me fighting everyday.
My last 2 scans showed great shrinkage and am now currently on just herceptin, after having chemo last year.
I hope that they are wrong and the scans show no spread for you.
Thinking of you during the terrible waiting game. I have bone secondaries so know how devastating tests and results can be but the waiting game is definitely the pits. I hope the scans come back with nothing but if not you are in the right place for support and advice. There are so many lovely ladies on here with liver secondaries who are dealing with it in such a positive way and showing that there definitely is life after a 2ndary dx who will help you with whatever happens. Don’t know what else to say but please know we are here to support you and help in any way.
Hi Mel,
sorry you are feeling down but when you have to wait for results it is always a very stressful time.
Remember we are all different and there are lots of treatments depending on results. If while you are waiting you think of things you want to ask, write them down if you have read any of my posts I am forever banging on about my little book! Not so little now I am on my second one, when first diagnosed did not think I would get past 1st page.
In some ways my life has been better than before, Two weeks after being given the rotten news Ian and I got married.I have been able to witness my youngest daughter falling in love and having a beautiful wedding, eldest grand daughter having her first baby(I know I am only 57) so lots of lovely normal things going on all around. For me I try not to dwell on the inevitable I have done some daft things such as ringing onc and asking would I be wasting money if I bought a cashmere winter coat or a cheaper one. His reply buy the cashmere, so I did and you know what I need another winter coat this year.
Sorry if I have gone on I just want you to see that the only difference between me and the stranger across the road is that I know what could be on my death certificate.
You will reach lots of milestones and have the full support of other forum members.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that it could be something else even though it doesnt look good.
Its been 9 months for me in this club and I have done alot in that time and hope to do more. I am just back from the hospital and things I think are looking pretty stable…so you do go on, its not easy but there are lots of lovely things to do- including not so lovely like full time work for me.
Hope that you can get through this horrible time and they can sort out atreatment plan asap,
I have just got to say how you made me laugh out loud at asking your Onc whether you should go for a Cashmere coat or a cheaper one. It’s the sort of thing that I would think but know that I would be thought of as a complete nutter if I uttered it out loud. It’s great that you feel you can say these things!
hello ive had breast cancer and also have secondaries in my liver which thankfully the chemo have kept stable ,just having regular ctscans now to keep an eye on things .so although at the moment your living in limbo land you will soon have a clearer picture of what to do regarding treatments etc im 2 yrs post diognosis now and still upand fighting ,i know its not easy for you but the support on line is lovely there is always someone here to help .take care of yourself .sending big hugs to you .lynn xx
Sorry your feeling down I know the waiting is the worst. Fingers crossed it is nothing but as other ladies have said there are many of us dealing with this b…disease but we are fighters and you must join our gang. I have been on chemo for 2 years now and things at the moment are stable.
You did make me laugh aswell debsincornwall I think of things like that but don’t say anything.
Just as everyone else has said, I am hoping that there is some reason other than liver secondaries. However as someone who was told 15 months ago that I had liver mets, I can also endorse what everyone else has said about still being able to get on with life and enjoy things. I’m on chemo at the moment but seem to be responding very well - no guarantees how long that will continue but currrently the cancer is under control. I won’t pretend it isn’t a real emotional rollercoaster and that there are bad times as well as good but there is always support here.
The waiting is truly horrible - hope you get your results very soon. L
Hi
thank you to everyone one for there kind words.From what you all say there is still hope that if I get the positive yes it is liver mets and in the other boob as well.It just seems so unreal at the moment. I had stopped chemo for the BC six weeks ago and now this has turned up.Can i go through this all again.Have been planing my funeral tonight so the kids don’t have to worry.Does that seem stupid ! and all I do is cry.Have been of work since April and have managed to get the doctor to allow me to go back next week dont know if I have done the right thing or if I will cope with it,but I need to do something.
I have not told the kids about the scan or what I might have,infact they know very little about what has been going on these past 8 months I didnt want to worry them.They new that I had BC but think that it is all gone.They have there own lives to lead and wrong or right I didnt want to worry them.
Anyway am going to look for a nice holiday that I can go on some were warm and sunny.As long as I am well enough I shall go
thanks
Hi
Have had a call this morning from Claire (my cancer nurse) asking me to go for an appointment this afternoon with the onc as results are in.Am now very frightened about the results!
I will just add that I cant fault these doctors or the hospital as I thought that I would have to wait for another week and that was going to unbearable.It has only been 4 days.I did book that holiday to Egypt in October and am now wondering if I have done the right thing as I am going on my own.I do feel that I need some time out away from anyone that knows I have cancer to try and get my head round things.But then I dont know if I will be able to get insurance.As I am also diabetic that can cause a problem.perhaps I should just forget it all together.
Anyway will post later when I have the results