Liver resection for her2+ disease

Hi there,

i haven’t used this site much but am in need of some advice now as feeling a bit unsure of what is the right decision to make! I was first diagnosed Jun 2014, followed by TCH, then mastectomy and another mastectomy a year later. Recurred in my skin Feb 2016 then metastasised to my liver August 2016. After launching a campaign, I live in Scotland where Kadcyla is not made available, I was successful in being funded. My liver met has reduced from 2.2cms to 0.7cms on MRI after 5 treatments. I’ve since had a 6th before seeing a Liver Specialist last week who has recommended a laparoscopic partial resection (5%) of my liver. I am on the list for 13th Feb, all seems a bit of a rush!! My oncologist cancelled my Kadcyla for Monday and will resume it after the op but thinks he may only recommend another 6 cycles of treatment. I am tolerating it extremely well and had hoped to continue it until either I had side effects or disease progression. Has anyone else had a liver resection whilst on Kadcyla? Do you think it’s a good idea? Blinking hard making these decisions knowing that there is only me and one other lady on Kadcyla in Scotland, most of the working experience is obviously in England (or US etc). Many thanks, Annie

Hi and welcome to the secondaries part of the forum

It sounds like your campaign to get Kadcyla has paid off and it’s doing a great job! How frustrating though that it is not offered at all North of the border (or in Wales) even on the CDF.

From what has been written on various threads on here it seems there is a very good outcome after having liver resection or RFA for liver mets. I was offered a resection recently after some progression but after an MRI showed a few more very tiny lesions it was decided to start me on Kadcyla. I’m hoping if this works as well as it has done for you that I may still go for either of these procedures. I can’t  remember exactly which threads this has previously been posted on but it seems that ladies who have had either, or both over time, are generally NED for liver mets this must help with the overall survival  and period in between further spread. Obviously secondary BC never goes away but if it can be stopped in its tracks for even a short time it gives a period of stability and recovery. The one question I have is why would your oncologist stop Kadcyla? Is it the funding issue? As far as I am aware treatments for SBC generally continue until they are shown not to be working. I would be concerned if it were me that without Kadcyla it would return sooner rather than later.

Hopefully you can get some other opinions as well but do keep us posted, we’re always interested in treatments and procedures that work.

Nicky x

Hi Nicky,
Thank u for that, I read some of your posts last night. Good of you to reply and I really hope Kadcyla works well for you. I’m not sure what his problem is about keeping the Kadcyla going and this is overshadowing what I thought last Tuesday was a fairly positive decision to have the resection suggested though I know it doesn’t come with any guarantees. I feel at the moment Kadcyla is my lifeline and the idea of stopping it after a further 6 causes me concern so much so that I was seriously thinking not to bother with the resection. Anyway I will do it and will somehow find the energy to do battle again to make sure I get the best possible chance. I am really hoping both for ladies down south and for us up here that NICE overturn there decision as I read of so many ladies who have done well even for a time as you say. Gets tiring though doesn’t it? I move house two weeks after surgery as we relocated from further north and have been living temporarily with my sister. Hoping recovery from surgery is as way as the surgeon suggested!
I plan to use this site more now as I try and adjust to living with mets so I’ll keep up to date with your posts. Thanx for now, take care Ax

Hi , did you have your liver resection? I’m due for mine on Friday 8 June .How was it? Best wishes xx