Hi Ladies
I am hoping for a bit of re-assurance from you all.
I went to the hospital for my monthly zoladex last week, and through having a bad chest thing going on since feb, they sent me for a chest x ray and bloods.
My chest x ray has come back clear, but my bloods came back and I was told that my liver test was slightly higher than normal!!!
They are sending me for a CT scan on the 11th of July of my chest and upper abdomen. They told me that they are not expecting to find anything and it is more to put my mind at rest.
Now…since I have been told this, I have found a pea size lump in the area of my liver.
As you can imagine, my mind is now in overdrive and the 11th cannot come soon enough.
I have not felt anything. I don’t know if that helps.
The CT scan will reveal all. It is no use saying don’t worry, because we all do. I had my liver in one massive grotty lump until I went today and was told that I only have 2 small patches of cancer there.
I was dx with bone mets 2 years ago and then in April this year following a ct scan, was dx with 3 small tumours on my liver. I have felt no pain as yet and have just had the second dose of FEC chemo to try and in the words of the onc “render the cells dormant”. The only thing I have is occasional hiccups which apparently can be a symptom !!
I too have liver mets (multiple throughout the liver) but have never been able to feel anything. Just occasionally I get a “twinge” in the liver area, but have been told this could be as a result of the chemo working.
As Gill says, you will inevitably worry until you have the results of the scan but there can be many reason why liver function tests are raised. So try not to panic - and hope that you don’t have to wait too long after the 11th for those results.
Please feel free to call our helpline for a chat about the concerns you have at the moment, the number is 0808 800 6000 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-2pm.
Hi Angie
My symptoms were weight loss (a stone or more), severe tiredness (more than would be usual), I couldn’t sit upright without discomfort and a blood/liver profile which was wildly, I mean wildly, out. I had multiple tumours but could not have felt any of them. That was 4 years ago - I have no tumours and feel fine (on Herceptin 3 weekly that is all).
What I am trying to say is that you will probably be fine but even if you have liver tumours it isn’t necessarily the end of the world, look at me.
I’m the same as Blondie (except I’m not on herceptin) - 4 years ago, extremely high liver function tests, multiple tumours etc. When I was at my ‘illest’ I couldn’t sleep on that side but definitely couldn’t feel anything although my oncologist used to say how distended my liver was (but I could never feel it with my hands).
LFT’s can be up for a variety of reasons - not always sinister and hope things go okay for you.
Hi Angie
I too am like Blondie and Pinkdove clusters in liver I am on avastin just finished taxol at their worst it was a little like final stages of pregnancy. Couldnt sleep on tummy or see my feet but have never been able to feel them!
Good luck with your teatment.
I have liver mets, was dx with them at same time as bc, but had no symptoms, no pain or lumps etc.
I do get the odd twinge like Kay mentioned but that is it really, and am really really hoping to end up like Blondie, with no sign, as am now on Herceptin 3 weekly, got dose number 9 i think next week.
Good luck with your scan, I hope for you that there is nothing there and will keep everything crossed for you. Wont bother to say dont worry, as we all do, no escaping that one.
As far as I know I don’t have liver mets, but thought this point fitted this thread. When I go for check-ups at hosp I sometimes, but not everytime, get my stomach felt. It varies greatly from a good pummeling, to a light touch depending on the doc. Can they actually feel anything? I haven’t had a blood test for ages and it is not done routinely so how would they know if I had liver mets, if I am not feeling unwell or twinges either?
Irene - I asked this once, they are feeling for your liver margins, what i never really understood is why so low? Maybe they are checking for fluid, signs of tension>
If you are feeling fine- they would not know unelss you were having routine blood tests to look at markers and functions,
hi im having regular ct scans on my liver ,as i had secondaries from the breast,now i get a lot of pain in the area,usually when i sit and it does feel like ive bruised mtself ,after the last scsn i was told that the chemo id had after my mastectomy had halted their growth ,ive not had a blood test for over 6 mnths despite having had these scans regularly .i was told they may have been cysyts but these dont usually change shape do they . it is a worry for me everytime i have a scan ,that one day they will say there is a change and i will have to have further treatments ,im on arimadex with all the side effects they cause ,afraid i didnt tolerate chemo very well .lynn
Your liver can become enlarged overall - if your liver function is impaired - and this is what the docs are feeling for, not specifically to find lumps.
I also have liver mets ( multiple throughout liver) when I was first dx in May 2006 I had lost a lot of weight and felt a large lump above my stomach, since being on Xeloda the lump has gone and my weight is soaring. My onc feels my stomach area and she says that she can tell when the liver is enlarged, your right Alli the liver is behind the stomach so I would be surprised if you could feel anything.
Good luck for your scan and I hope its nothing.
Lynn the fact you have been having regular scans and everything appears good is brilliant, I’m not sure about cysts changing shape so can’t answer that. We all worry about results is a horrible time for us all but there are some good treatments out there and chemos are changing all the time, I’m on Xeloda have been since 2006 and I tolerate is quite well feet and hands do get dry and sore but I put lots of creams on.
does your skin go yellow with liver mets? i find mine sometimes is really yellow first thing in the morning, it was like that during chemo but that was in 2006,so surly cant still be chemo side effects,should i be worried at all ,am due for next scan and check up in august? lynn
The only time that I’ve had jaundice is when my bile duct was affected. Maybe you should mention it before you go in August - are the whites of your eyes a bit yellow as well?
yes they are ,usually in the mornings.( not caused by a hangover! honestly !)do get slight aches on right side under my ribs , more like poking a bruise .trouble is i feel like im always having something wrong with me whenever i go to the clinic ,and when i mentioned this pain the oncologist couldnt understand just why i was in pain ! im getting more wound up by the day ,august seems a long way off ,its true the waiting does your head in dosnt it . lynn x