Need Assistance and Suggestion - Metastatic Liver Cancer

rohit88sood

Dear Community,

Need some consultation from any Doc (if there in forum) on my mother's reports.

Brief Background -

Diagnosed with Breast Cancer - Jun 16

Underwent surgery to remove one of the breast

Has underdone ~30 Chemo sessions with Herception

Mar 18 - Had PET scan, diagnosed with MET Cancer in Bones and Liver

Underwent another set of Chemo with Perjeta

Aug 18 - PET Scan - slight improvement in Liver

Perjeta continued ( 6 cycles)

Nov 18 - PET Scan, MET has increased and showing spreading to lungs

Advice from Doc -

Option 1 - Start the oral

Option 2 - Start Chemo

Option 3 - Change the drug to Kadeyla

Need some suggestion from forum on Option 3. Can any one let me know if this is the only option left now, will this drug actually work considering that Perjeta failed.

Would be happy to hear something from Forum

MargaritaMS

Dear Rohit88sood, so sorry to hear about your mother's situation. Based on the information that you've provided, it sounds as though your mother has a HER2+ cancer. In that case, the Herceptin and Perjeta either on their own or with chemo are typically administered. You didn't mention what chemo your mother has already had or what others her doctor has suggested but I believe that either Taxol or Abraxane along with Herceptin/Perjeta are common first line treatments. Kadcyla is often, as in my case, administered after progression occurs on Herceptin/Perjeta and following Taxol or Abraxane and possibly others - I couldn’t sa for sure. I have had both Taxol and Abraxane at times before starting Kadcyla. Personally, I have found Kadcyla to be a very manageable drug (ie moderate side effects) and effective (I've been on it for about 2 years and counting without significant progression). So to answer that part of your question, yes, Kadcyla can work after Herceptin/Perjeta alone has failed. I've been assured by my doctor that after Kadcyla there are many other treatment options to consider but which one will depend on various individual circumstances surrounding the change. For example, you didn't mention your mother's ER/PR status but that would also have an impact on other potential treatments. I would encourage you to explore this community further to find the most relevant existing discussions - there is a wealth of information in them. There are forums on this site for Herceptin/Perjeta, various chemos and treatment options such as Kadcyla and also for mets to different parts of the body. You might also see out the metastatic breast cancer information guide offered for free via email by Bestbird. She has a discussion topic that explains how to request a copy. I've tried to provide a link to it here (hope it works): https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topics/...

I hope you find the info you need to help your mother make treatment decisions. All the best to you both.

Margarita

exbrnxgrl

Rohit,

I am so sorry to hear about your mother’s condition. Does your mother have breast cancer that has metastasized to her liver, or liver cancer that has metastasized? Liver cancer would be a new primary and treated differently than breast cancer. Breast cancer that has metastasized to her liver is still treated as breast cancer. Take good care

rohit88sood

Dear Community,

Hope all are doing good.

Just wanted to share with you all an update on my mother's progress on the medication been followed.

We had another PET Scan performed in Nov'18 and it was understood that the Perjeta did noting to the cancer cells and there was still a lot of progression shown by cells. Doc had suggested and stared another line of treatment with Kadcyla. She had 3 cycles of Kadcyla from Nov'18 till Jan'19 and in Feb'19 ost which we had another PET Scan done. Unfortunately Kadcyla also did not respond to cancer cell and we have to stop treatment with Kadcyla.

Now doc has stated that whatever drugs (injectable) were available in market have been given the only option left is to put her on Oral chemo (lapatinib). Doc has ruled out giving injectable chemo stating that her body will become too weak as by time she recovers from one session another session would be standing in line, and he may no be able to continue with injectable Chemo for long.

Feeling bad that there is not much available to support her medically.

Appreciate if forum members can share feedback on lapatinib.

Thanks,

Rohit Sood