Liver and Pancreas Stable

Posted by chaplaindan @chaplaindan, Jun 29 12:16pm

Blessings all. I am so encouraged by the many posts and wonderful input as my wife and I are now taking a new turn with her NET. Diagnosed in October with NET in the small and large GI with METS to the liver and a 2.1 CM mass found in her pancreatic tail. Surgery in December to remove portion of small and large GI, mesenteric lymph nodes and over 50 tumors removed/ablated from her liver. Lanreotide started shortly after. April, 4 more tumors ablated from her liver. We just received her recent scans which shows the liver mets and pancreas to be stable. This is a very encouraging yet new step for us as the last 8 months have been very draining for her and I both. The doctor will be following up in another 3 months with another set of scans. I would appreciate any input on others experiences with "stable". What to expect with the uncertainty, etc. We appreciate all the support.

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kevinmonroemi | @kevinmonroemi | Jun 29 1:17pm

Stable is good! It does not mean a cure however it gives us a break physically and gives our weak bodies time to heal some. Mentally you hope it will last. I alway prepare for the worst and hope for the best I don’t get to excited as we don’t really know how long it will last so I don’t like to set myself up for disappointment. I had a roller coaster ride for about 2 years before I had a two year stretch of being stable after Lanreotide chemo and finally high dose y-90 radiation to my liver, tumor in pancreas continues to grow hasn’t been targeted yet so not sure what will happen with that yet as soon as the liver tumors progress again I will go on a new treatment you will still have a lot on your mind. In the mean time I have my scans 6-months apart now and feel pretty good so enjoy your vacation time. Some treatments work very well and some don’t. I also have grade 2 pancreatic primary metatastic to the liver. I am very happy you both get a break. I hope that helps

kevinmonroemi | @kevinmonroemi | Jun 29 1:19pm

In reply to @kevinmonroemi "Stable is good! It does not mean a cure however it gives us a break physically..." + (show)

I also developed spinal tumors while being stable in the liver

lindabees | @lindabees | Jun 30 12:29pm

Stable is always good and a welcome change. 3 month MRI scans and at least annual ga-68 scans when monitoring stability is pretty common. After following this protocol for a year or so, some oncologists may slowly expand the time between scans as long as things stay stable.
The mental "scan-xiety" is the one of the hardest things to deal with. We deal with that by knowing it's out of our control and focus on enjoying life without fear as much as possible.
Just be sure to read her scan reports and make sure you fully understand them with her doctor. In the past, we've always kept ourselves educated and informed and have a plan in the back of our head for the "what if" possibility with each scan. Bless you and your wife and I pray for a long period of stability and peace for you both.

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