Metastatic breast cancer: Anyone else?

Posted by rae3 @rae3, Oct 6, 2016

Hello...I am new to this site. I had BC originally in 1989 with lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. After 4 months of pains, thought to be muscular from lots of tennis, xrays revealed cracked vertebraes in the spine and led to MBC diagnosis, to the bones. I have been receiving xgeva and faslodex injections once a month since February 2015. One round of radiation in August to the hip eliminated that pain by reducing the tumor. Just wondering if there is anyone out there in a similar situation and how are you doing??

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@colleenyoung

Welcome, @mjwhearts22. It is my understanding that metastasis to the skin can sometimes be treated, but not cured. Have you had any treatments like electrochemotherapy, special dressings or even antibiotics? These may be options depending on a variety of factors. Do you have pain?

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Yes, I have breast pain that comes and goes but when the pains come, it’s very sharp.

Mary

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I have been posting in another area but also wanted to post here because I have just found out I have been diagnosed with metastatic cancer to a lymph node in porta hepatic area. I had laparoscopic biopsy to confirm this week. The path report states positive for metastatic carcinoma of porta hepatis lymph node positive for GATA3 and CK7. It also states benign with no metastatic carcinoma in liver wedge resection. This leads me to believe it is not in the liver itself but confined to the lymph node that is attached to the porta hepatic area which are blood vessels which feed the liver and other organs. But I will need to speak with oncologist for clarification. It is confusing.
Can anyone share what types of treatment they are on for metastatic breast cancer to liver or lymph nodes?
I had invasive lobular carcinoma of breast in 2013. I had double mastectomy with 8 rounds of chemo and 5 years of AI. I was ER positive at 80% and HEr2 negative. I always knew there was a high risk of return so here I am ready to do whatever it takes to live .

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Hi all, well, since my last post, I was not sure of the side effects of my chemo drug, VERZENIO,
AND MY EXEMESTANE, I AM HAPPY TO SAY I AM JUST TIRED FROM THE TWO DRUGS
WITH NO OTHER SIDE EFFECTS SO FAR.
I BELIEVE IN DRINKING A FULL GLASS OF WATER WITH EACH TIME I TAKE THESE PILLS.
I ALSO MAKE SURE I EAT SOMETHING JUST BEFORE I TAKE THE PILLS .
NO NAUSEA, NO DIZZINESS, NO DIARRHEA.
MY RASH IS ALMOST GONE, SO I AM A HAPPY CAMPER FOR NOW.
UNTIL MY NEXT PET SCAN DECEMBER TO SEE IF THE DRUGS ARE WORKING.
I FEEL IT IMPORTANT THAT WE SHARE WHAT WORKS WITH THESE DRUGS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR KIND WORDS; THEY MEAN EVERYTHING TO ME.

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@meme5

I have been posting in another area but also wanted to post here because I have just found out I have been diagnosed with metastatic cancer to a lymph node in porta hepatic area. I had laparoscopic biopsy to confirm this week. The path report states positive for metastatic carcinoma of porta hepatis lymph node positive for GATA3 and CK7. It also states benign with no metastatic carcinoma in liver wedge resection. This leads me to believe it is not in the liver itself but confined to the lymph node that is attached to the porta hepatic area which are blood vessels which feed the liver and other organs. But I will need to speak with oncologist for clarification. It is confusing.
Can anyone share what types of treatment they are on for metastatic breast cancer to liver or lymph nodes?
I had invasive lobular carcinoma of breast in 2013. I had double mastectomy with 8 rounds of chemo and 5 years of AI. I was ER positive at 80% and HEr2 negative. I always knew there was a high risk of return so here I am ready to do whatever it takes to live .

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I was diagnosed metastatic Estrogen & Her2 positive breast cancer in lymph nodes, sternum, spine, liver and other areas. I completed 6 chemotherapy treatments of Taxotere Herceptin & Perjeta. Am currently on Herceptin only because heart function keeps declining because chemotherapy 10 years ago cause congestive heart failure and I have been on in heart meds since 2013. I was to start Herceptin & Perjeta but Heart Ejection fraction is around 38% oncology cardiologist has me only doing Herceptin.

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@mssewest

I was diagnosed metastatic Estrogen & Her2 positive breast cancer in lymph nodes, sternum, spine, liver and other areas. I completed 6 chemotherapy treatments of Taxotere Herceptin & Perjeta. Am currently on Herceptin only because heart function keeps declining because chemotherapy 10 years ago cause congestive heart failure and I have been on in heart meds since 2013. I was to start Herceptin & Perjeta but Heart Ejection fraction is around 38% oncology cardiologist has me only doing Herceptin.

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Thank you for sharing this info. Yours is quite the journey. How long have you been stage 4 and are you able to keep up with daily life? I am almost 75 and in very good health other than this latest finding of cancer. I am trying to learn all I can about living with another cancer metastisis.

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@meme5

Thank you for sharing this info. Yours is quite the journey. How long have you been stage 4 and are you able to keep up with daily life? I am almost 75 and in very good health other than this latest finding of cancer. I am trying to learn all I can about living with another cancer metastisis.

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I am 55 was liver biopsy January 6, 2022 confirmed Mets to liver etc.

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@rae3

Thanks for responding...I am tolerating the injections quite well for almost two years now. Only side affect seems to be about 5 fingernails have deteriorated on the tips. I started taking Solary brand biotin daily and using Hansen nail hardener and that helps strengthen the nails. I am thankful I can still do many things with the help of pain meds. I am being treated in southwest Florida and have yet to meet anyone with MBC. Nice to know this site is available.

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I have MBC, being treated with chemotherapy as cancer is in my liver. Scan showed 50% of cancer in liver is gone. I am hopeful other 50% will be gone with ongoing chemotherapy.

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I received an addendum to my path report this morning stating the cancer in lymph node was weakly and partially positive for ER beta1 and negative for androgen receptor. Can someone shed some light on this for meaning? I know it means most likely coming from original breast cancer but what is beta1 and androgen receptor?
Thanks for any insight.

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@meme5

I received an addendum to my path report this morning stating the cancer in lymph node was weakly and partially positive for ER beta1 and negative for androgen receptor. Can someone shed some light on this for meaning? I know it means most likely coming from original breast cancer but what is beta1 and androgen receptor?
Thanks for any insight.

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This appears to be a more specific version of ER+ and the androgen receptor seems to be related to the progesterone receptor. I am not a doctor, so ask your doc. But this seems to mean you are weakly ER+ and PR-.

from Google: Estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) also known as NR3A2 (nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group A, member 2) is one of two main types of estrogen receptor—a nuclear receptor which is activated by the sex hormone estrogen.[5]

and

The androgen receptor (AR), also known as NR3C4 (nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 4), is a type of nuclear receptor[9] that is activated by binding any of the androgenic hormones, including testosterone and dihydrotestosterone[10] in the cytoplasm and then translocating into the nucleus. The androgen receptor is most closely related to the progesterone receptor, and progestins in higher dosages can block the androgen receptor

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Just came from my surgical follow up. I have metastatic breast cancer which was confined to the 2 lymph nodes completely removed near liver area. No cancer in liver! The surgeon said I “got lucky” this was found accidently from an ultrasound in the ER for a stomach bug. There is no cancer in any other organs either! They have now turned my care over to my medical oncologists to determine treatment which may be chemo in pill form, etc but overall even though now classified metastatic can still be properly treated. I see Medical oncologist in two weeks. They said because I have been asymptomatic no telling how long it would have been before any symptoms occurred. I know I will be in treatment but feel grateful beyond measure that this was not worse.

They also stated this is still estrogen positive even though less than the original breast cancer which was 80%.
What type of treatment do they usually start you on?

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