Secondary Breast cancer
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7 posts since
17 Sep 2020
Hi Iv just been diagnosed with breast cancer the estrogen one , the ct scan showed up something in my liver and I got an mri which shows it’s also cancer they think it has came from the breast , they have said unlike normal secondary cancer it’s seems to jus be in the one spot at the edge of the liver ,I have to go for a pet scan to confirm it’s not anywhere else that they might have missed , if that all comes back ok they are looking to cut the liver tumour out and do a mastectomy after chemo , I read that secondary cancer is usually terminal but they seem to think it can still be curative if all goes well with the scan ? Has any one else had this ? I am 33 and have 2 young kids and I am terrified and confused
218 posts since
4 Jun 2019
Hi I have never heard they do surgery on secondary breast cancer.I was diagnosed in May 2019 but was never offered a surgery.I was never offered even a Pet scan.And was told because its already spread they dont do any surgery not even a mastectomy.So I am only on chemo.
But I have meeting on 30.9.and I will ask this rubbish oncologist of mine why i cant have surgery.
Thank you
Denise
7 posts since
17 Sep 2020
They said if it had been anywhere else on the liver they wouldn’t be able to but this is on the very bottom corner they hoping to cut it out as long as the pet scan is all ok x
323 posts since
9 Mar 2011
Hello and thanks for your post
I’m sorry to read about your situation.This must be a very difficult time for you.
Surgery is rarely offered for secondary liver cancer so you might not be able to make contact with someone going through a similar situation. Surgery may be offered if the area of secondary breast cancer in the liver is very small, can be easily accessed by the surgeon and there’s no other evidence of secondary breast cancer elsewhere in the body.
The next step is to have the PET scan and I think until you get the results no one will be able to tell you any more for now.Waiting when you are worried is stressful but hopefully your breast care team will be able to tell you more soon.
Give us a ring if you want to talk things through.The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.
Kind regards,
Celene
7 posts since
17 Sep 2020
I have had the results and nothing else showed in the pet scan so I’m now gettin chemo and will get surgery after I have been told it is rare but it has been seen before , they seem happy it’s only in the one small area on the liver
3 posts since
28 Jan 2021
Hello, I have just read your post and I am in a very similar position to you. I had a CT scan after my initial breast cancer diagnosis, it showed a spot on my liver which was indeterminate. I then had an MRI and a PET scan which also came back indeterminate. I found out yesterday that liver specialists have looked at it and reported that it’s likely to be cancer. I’ve already had my lumpectomy on my breast and all my lymph nodes removed, the oncologist yesterday was positive and said that because of the size and where abouts it is on my liver they should be able to do surgery or targeted radiotherapy after my chemo with the aim to get rid of the cancer completely. I feel confused like you as I’ve read that secondary breast cancer is incurable but this wasn’t really the impression my oncologist gave off yesterday. I’m so sorry that you’re going through this. I feel comforted to have found someone in a similar boat to me as it seems a really rare position we find ourselves in. I’d love to know how you’re getting on and if you ever fancy a chat just let me know. Sending you lots of strength xxx
7 posts since
17 Sep 2020
Hi , thank you for replying it’s very confusing Isn’t it ? , since my last post Iv finished my chemo which shrunk the liver tumour down to almost unrecognisable on the scan so this confirms it was cancer but also good that is went so small, Iv been told that after my mastectomy whic is on the 4th feb that they will get the liver team involved but I might go on hormone blockers for a few months to make sure that it stays stable and doesn’t pop up any where else first , then if that all Goes ok I should get the op, my oncologist is still saying they are treating or hoping for curable (I asked about 20 times to make sure I was hearing it right )as it is a rare case but that he has seen a handful of woman in the same boat as we seem to be in , I jus want to know for definite that they will go ahead with the liver op I don’t want to be waiting months and months xx
3 posts since
28 Jan 2021
It is confusing! Fantastic news that it has shrunk with the chemo! How long was it after they found the liver spot that they started chemo for you? Completely get that you don’t want to wait months and months. I really hope you get the op! My spot is 16mm at the moment so 1.6 cm which they say is small. Theyve said about hormone blockers for me too as it’s estrogen and progesterone positive which apparantly is a good thing as once the hormones stop it should stop feeding off them! Sorry you’re going through this while your kids are still little, I’m 52 now so mine are a bit older but it’s still really hard. We don’t have a choice apart from to get through it (the best we can)! Sending you so much love and strength. So glad to have found someone in a similar situation! Xxx
7 posts since
17 Sep 2020
So from first diagnosed to chemo was 2 months but That was because they had to send me for all the scans once they noticed the liver , I was originally ment to get the mastectomy first , my liver tumour was 17 mm then I had a scan half way thru chemo and it reduced to 8mm and then the final one was too small to measure , mine is just estrogen positive so they spoke about the blocker and possibly a jag to stop my overies working too , I feel so relieved to know that there is some one else who has similar too I was beginning to doubt what they drs were saying as everything about secondary seems to be so bad . Have they said when you will start chemo or how many u will Get ? I had 8 rounds 4 of EC then 4 of paclitaxel xx
3 posts since
28 Jan 2021
Basically the same size as mine then! They said I’m starting in 3 weeks but not sure how many I’ll get yet, I’m having a meeting the week before my it starts about what they’re going to give me. Just want to get on with it now. I’ve been offered a biopsy as they can’t be 100% it is cancer from the scans but the report said that it’s likely and they want to scan me in 3 months. Did you have a biopsy? Xxx
7 posts since
17 Sep 2020
I didn’t get offered a biopsy they said they wait it lit up on the pet scan showed it was most likely to be cancer and they said if it shrunk by the half way scan they would be able to tell for sure ,I did ask about a biopsy but they didn’t really seem keen to do that , it’s the waiting about that’ is the worst part you jus want to get it all started so it’s over sooner xx
32 posts since
1 Jan 2021
Hello. I’m in similar situation I think! even though it’s in different location. I was diagnosed with stage 4 with curative intent. My lesion is in the sternum and its single or isolated. I only had a bone and ct scan so wondering why they haven’t given me a pet scan just to check its not spread elsewhere. I’m in leeds, you guys? Maybe they do things differently in places or maybe because mines bone rather than organ. I’m due to start chemo on Monday. 2 rounds first and if it’s working a further 4, fingers crossed it works.
7 posts since
17 Sep 2020
Hiya , I’m in Scotland so not sure if they do it a bit different depending what part of the uk we are in ? I have heard that not every one does get a pet scan it was the liver specialist who wanted me to get one before they take on my case, that’s reassuring they are still hoping for curative Intent with you aswell , I hope u get a good response to the chemo I had 4 rounds before they checked how it was going x
Secondary Breast cancer
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