Liver mets - treatment options

Thanks PrimeK

Certainly sounds like they are carefully planning your best treatment. Here's hoping you start feeling better soon. 

I saw the Oncologist today - or rather her registrar, but my oncologist came in at the end.  I now have to have a brain MRI ( to check whether there is any correlation to some of the diabetes symptoms) and  bone scan ( to see if the shoulder blade/lower back pain is increasing bone Mets) before a final nail decision is made regarding chemo. I have an appointment for these on 15 Nov.

She wants to discuss the last CT scan with the radiologist to see if he can do a biopsy on a lesion for Foundation One testing ( which she said she had just been advised of a streamlined way of requesting this, which would be better than the 50 emails it took last time she requested this testing) . She also said it might not tell her much more, but anyway I’m still keen for this. 

As far as chemo goes she is thinking Xeloda ....2 weeks on, one week off.  So for now I’m keeping on with Exemestane and Xgeva and once again waiting for appointments.  She is going to discuss my case with the multi disciplinary team at their next meeting ....which is in 2 weeks.  I go back to the oncologist on 21 Nov to get the scan/MRI results and find out what chemo to take.  So I will put up with the crappy way I feel physically and emotionally until then. 

Hi Lynne
I was diagnosed with met breast cancer in Oct 2016, 3 years after my first breast cancer.
i have mets in cervical and
thoracic spine and liver. I’ve been having chemo since Nov 2016. Nab-pacitaxel and gemcitabine. I have treatment on a 3 weekly cycle treatment day 1, day 8 and day 15 is a break. 
My scan results since commencing chemo  have been great. Significant reduction in liver lesions to the point where it is almost not visible. And good results with the bone Mets too.
like everyone else has
mentiined go to your oncologist armed with all the questions you can think of.
Best of luck for your journey ahead.

Hi Judy. Yes, the Metformin seems to be working for me.  My glucose levels have been kept very stable.  Stress and fatigue can also affect your blood glucose levels, so I wouldn't be surprised if that is a factor.  Let me know what plan your oncologist recommends.  That would be great if you end up on the same treatment plan and then we can follow each other's progress. Take care, Lynne

Thanks Sam. I am very pleased this treatment worked for you. I am actually HER- although I think I might have said I was HER+.
however I re-read my initial pathology report and saw I was wrong. 
Anyway just keen to get onto a treatment that will work on my liver now. Roll on Thursday ! 
Best wishes to you

I have been on herceptin and perjeta since December and now have not one tumour left. All gone and a healthy liver. Treatments work believe in them.

Hi Maggie 
I have stage four her 2 pos bc. Diagnosed with 12 large inoperable Tumours in my liver last December much to my horror and grief. And to top it off some Mets in my spine. I have never felt sick once or had any pain   However there is treatments that can work and mine certainly has and I do hope yours will too.

Hi Lynne, thanks for your reply. I see my oncologist on Thursday and am keen to get started on some form of chemo to help with the symptoms.  I will let you know what is decided upon.
Is the metformin bringing your glucose levels under control? I am taking 1000mg each night but it is not doing anything to regulate the levels so now I am charting my glucose levels 8 times a day for four days to give to my GP who is then going to work out the correct insulin dose which I’m told I will take in addition to the metformin. 
I hope the pacitaxel works well for you and it knocks the liver Mets back to NED. I may be with you on this treatment journey
cheers Judy

Hi Maggie.  I wa diagnosed with Liver Mets about a month a go and started chemo last Monday with Paclitaxel.  I have treatment every Monday for 3 weeks, then have a week off and the following week see my oncologist for a review. I too had the pain under the ribs and right shoulder plus the nausea.  I don't know if it is just psychological, but my pain has definitely reduced since starting chemo.  I am hopeful, that this means that my liver is less inflamed as the chemo is doing something!  I was also diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes earlier this year and am on Metformin.  I started off on the 1000 slow release tablet, but it was way too much for me and found that taking half a 500ml tablet twice a day (breakfast and dinner) is working well for me.  I also eat very carefully, especially the carbohydrates.  Wishing you well with this next challenge ahead. Lynne