The surgery vs no surgery is a bit of a debate. Some say you should remove primary to decrease tumour load and others that the inflammatory process following surgery can hasten the return of mets. It’s a difficult one and I would definitely ask them to explain the thinking behind it and possibly for a second opinion.
In your position, I would be wanting to explore all of the options just so you can make an informed choice and feel happy with your decision. Great that your liver mets have gone!
Just a quick update - had a liver MRI last week following two cycles of Taxotere. Have seen onc this morning who says the liver looks as if it’s slightly better, is ‘probably’ stable and is definitely no worse. So I think that’s probably good - I went in a bit over-optimistic, I think, thinking I’d be told something amazing, but stable is still a good word. Going to have another MRI after my fourth TAX to see what’s happening then.
Hope everyone is doing ok, foul grey murky weather in Somerset, hope it’s better elsewhere
Hi Ihad chemo 6 months ago and was told it worked well and and all the mets were stable after chemo and also the liver mets had all gone. Had a ct scan last week and it was found they’d all come back. Have an appointment with my oncologist tomorrow to discuss treatment
Veggibab, so sorry to hear that the mets have returned and let’s hope you can get onto a treatment plan that will send them scuttling again and for longer this time.
Laurie and Nicky, sorry to hear you only hear the P word, I really hope that all changes for both of you really really soon.
Sue, great news on the Xeloda still working - sounds like a wonder-drug to me for those who respond to it - it appears to work for a long time for lots of people
Hi Belinda, thanks for your PM, have replied xx
Feeling quite good this morning, almost human which is typical as I have Tax No 3 tomorrow so will be back to feeling rubbish within the next few days - oh well, never mind, as long as it’s doing the job
I seem to go so long without posting - it’s not intentional, I just intermittently feel utterly crap about a week after chemo and then it takes another week to feel normal again, by which time it’s due for another chemo session, which is tomorrow - number 4!
I was told at pre-assessment yesterday that my liver function test is now looking really good. My onc only had the tumour markers from the blood test prior to third chemo, so three weeks ago, and they were still 1100 which I was a bit despondent about but she said not to worry, they were on a downward trend and are probably much lower again now, will find out tomorrow. Another MRI in two weeks time to give the ‘proper’ picture. Apparently she is planning on putting me onto Femara after chemo which I’ve heard really good things about, so fingers crossed.
Hope you are all doing ok - I do follow most of the other threads even if I don’t post a lot. So sorry for all of you who are having progression and/or a really crap time on chemo, let’s hope for great things in 2012 for everyone
Just to update - TMs now 880 so a drop of 220 which I suppose is good, I just want them to drop more dramatically, but have the results of three more chemos to come so we shall see.
Thanks Laurie, yes it does make it all seem worthwhile. How are you getting on? I’ve just had my fourth one, not sure if you’re on the same timescale - had a feeling we were pretty much in sync!
Just panicking a bit - have just had a phone call from the appointments team at the hospital. I apparently now have to have a liver MRI next week (which I knew about) but they also want me to have another full body MRI on a different day. I’m trying to stay calm and think it’s probably to see what the bone mets are doing, but I do wish they’d tell you these things rather than simply springing them on you. My blood tests are better and my TMs are dropping so I hope it’s just a precautionary thing and not that they’re suspicious about something else. Eek!
Sorry to hear you’re in a bit of a panic, the helpline team are here if you need a chat. Calls are free, 0808 800 6000 lines open now and until 5pm, (M-F 9-5 & Sat 9-2)
Hi Lesley, sorry to hear this new scan has been added to the mix but hope it’s results will bring peace of mind…it is good news your tm’s are dropping. Take Care…x
Well, dont know whether to be cross or relieved or a bit of both - turns out two different oncs have each ordered a scan - I’m only meant to be having one after all!! Spent half the day on tenterhooks thinking all sorts of awful things.
The bcns still don’t know if I’m supposed to be having just a liver only MRI, or a full body scan to check bones as well, but will know tomorrow.
I couldn’t really understand it as the onc was so pleased with my liver function and TMs last week, glad to know really that it’s a clerical error, but one I could have done without!!
Thanks to the helpline, whoever I spoke to was very reassuring!
Well ladies I now join you on this forum having been diagnosed with liver mets today to go hand in hand with my bone mets.
Had radiotherapy recently for a growth on hip bone and cons ordered ct and bone scans (bone scan next week) but ct scan picked up mets on liver and nodules scattered on lymph nodes which I was half expecting due to the discomfort I had suddenly been feeling on my right side over the last few days and the fact that a lump had appeared in my neck.
Now I’m about to give 6 docetaxol a try(had 6 fec before)as well as going back on herceptin indefinetly and continuing with pamidronate - all starting the week before Christmas (oh joy!). The only consolation is that I don’t have to endure the horrible zoladex injections any more.
How do I feel? Flat and numb at the moment but I know that feeling will pass once I get my head round things. Dreading the se’s which I have been reading about on the other forum but I coped with fec pretty well so hope it will be the same this time.
I’ve already asked my OH what colour hair does he fancy me with when I lose it this time. Used to be blonde before FEC then it grew back black much to everyone’s amazement (including mine) so maybe I might order red or a mature silver this time!
Fingers crossed that this treatment will blast the little blighters or at least beat them into submission for some time to come.
Hi Liz, sorry you’ve had to join this thread. I was dx’ed liver mets to go with my three-year-old bone mets in August of this year. Started 6 x docetaxol in September and have just had number 4. Have scan next week to show if it’s working, but blood tests and tumour markers look encouraging.
I don’t want to depress you any further, but I have to say that I have found this chemo an awful lot harder than the EC I had first time round. I seem to get every side effect going bar nausea and for about 10 days out of every cycle I feel rubbish, fatigued beyond belief, horrible joint pains, mouth ulcers, indigestion - I could go on!! But then the second half of the cycle is MUCH more bearable and I feel quite human again! I am just hanging onto the belief that if the drug is doing all these horrible things to the rest of me, it must be giving the cancer cells a good bashing along the way.
I’ve gone for quite a long wig in a shade just a bit lighter than my own colour but it’s getting on my nerves being this long now so I think I may have a bit chopped off after Christmas! I know it’s going to return all grey and fuzzy but will be able to colour it again eventually. Let us know what you go for!
I really hope your treatment goes well and blasts everything into submission - if it’s any consolation I have my fifth treatment on 22nd December, it’s great timing isn’t it??
Thanks for your comments - not so sure about the side effects one though! (only joking) as I know that we are all different with these. I must admit that I am worried about it as I know that I am not feelings as strong as I did the first time round but I keep giving myself a good talking to.
Never been told by cons about my tumour markers as they seem to concern themselves more with the blood results. Will ask about them next time I see her.
Good luck with your scan next week - hope you continue to have encouraging news.
I guess Christmas will pass us both in a bit of a blur this year!.
Take care.
Liz x
Welcome to the thread no-one wants to find themselves on
I’m usually on here fairly regularly but have no broadband at the moment (cos somebody nicked the cable - again!) so only came across your post today. I was diagnosed with stage IV from the start in June this year after a routine scan and have liver, lung and spinal mets. I’ve just had FEC x3 (which didn’t work - I had progression in my liver) and have just finished TAX x3 and have a scan booked in January.
Echo what Lesley has said about the TAX - it’s tough. You might want to check out the “Need positive comments about TAX” thread which is really good and different women have documented the various side effects they have gone through.
Hope the SE’s are not too bad for you. I would say be prepared to rest as much as you can.
Hope things work out well for you.
Laurie x
PS: Hi Lesley. Great timing with the chemo Guess you’ll be stretched out watching the Sound of Music again on Xmas day! Hope its all bearable. Lx
Hoping all of us here meet up in the stable club very soon…x