My mum has liver secondaries. She received was treated with Taxotere x9 and has also started on Avastin. At the start the chemo shrunk 2 of her marker tumours by 50%, but then it stopped doing anything and didn’t reduce them any further. I’m now worried that as she’s finished Taxotere the tumours will start up again
I was wondering if anyone with with liver secondaries could give me any advice as to what they found was the best treatment for them.
I would also like to know how people have done once diagnosed with liver secondaries.
My mum is in high spirits and does not let it get her down, if only me and my dad could be the same! I am so worried and our experience with the NHS has been awful,…initially her diagnosis was delayed by 2 YEARS ! I just have no faith in the NHS…
My mums doctor thinks she’ll only survive another year or so…
I am sorry to read of your Mum’s diagnosis. Whilst you wait for the other users to reply with their experiences and information you may find it useful to read the BCC fact sheet on Secondary BC in the liver. If you would like a copy just follow this link:- breastcancercare.org.uk/upload/pdf/secondary_breast_cancer_in_the_liver_0.pdf
I was dx with bc and liver mets at the same time in July 07. I had 3 x FEC and 3 x Taxotere, and these both did a great job on my tumours. I then went on to Herceptin in Dec 07 and that along with the chemo kept everything stable for 2 years, and shrunk my tumours to near enough nothing. Unfortunately in Oct this year there was some slight activity in my liver and boob, and am now on herceptin and Xeloda. Fingers crossed this works as well for me again.
I hope your mum gets results with her treatment, but her liver mets could stay stable although only shrunk by 50%. We all react differently to the different chemos, and hopefully your mum will find Avastin works for her.
I’m another lady with liver secondaries - diagnosed 2 and 1/2 years ago (primary dx was 7 and 1/2 years ago). It has been a real rollercoaster particularly since the secondary dx, but I’m still here, still working 4 days a week (for the NHS!) and managing to live a reasonably happy life.
Everyone is individual - some treatments work very well for some and not at all for others. And as Dawn says, the tumours remaining stable is the key thing. As well as chemo treatments, you and your mum might want to ask about localised liver treatments if the secondaries are confined to the liver - radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in particular is being offered much more frequently.
Good luck - hope the taxotere and avastin have done their job well and that your mum now has a long period of stability.
Dawn:
I wonder why they didn’t treat my mum with FEC too. She had had FEC on her primary breast cancer in 1990 and I believe it had worked well. So you kind of started Herceptin whilst you were about to finish chemo… (My mum isn’t eligible for Herceptin). Then you stayed on Herceptin and they added Xeloda. I very much hope it works for you too.
Yeah only 50% doesn’t feel great, but I know I’m being pessimistic as at least they are ‘stable’. It’s worrying as there’s lots of tumours in the liver, I don’t know how many.
Kay:
It’s so great to hear that you’re working and not letting it beat you. Just when you think you’re clear it came back huh. I’m sorry to hear that.
My mums bone pains started in 2005, but wasn’t diagnosed until 2007 (something that drives me up the wall). As I wonder if it could’ve been kept in the bones for longer without spread to organs. My mums consultant has talked about Ablation, so we hope to find out in the next few weeks what their opinion is on that. I’m worried they’re going to say that she has too many tumours and is not an ideal candidate. We shall see.
Thank you both very much for your responses. Lots of Love.
Az
