Liver masses

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Cydz
Cydz Member Posts: 157
edited June 2014 in Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis

Hi everyone, I am freaking out just a bit. I had to have an ultrasound for what I thought was gallbladder pain. The pain felt like a pretty bad stitch in my side. I said I was worried about liver cancer and she said she wanted me to do the ultrasound so I would have peace of mind as she was sure I didn't have liver cancer. I have no other issues at all, no digestive issues, no weight issues, and my pain is almost gone. Well got a call today saying there are 3 growths in my liver. 5cm x5cm. 2 cmx1 cm and 1cm x 1cm. These are pretty big!! My labs are fine. I am not sure what to think. I will go tomorrow for a ct scan. It's so hard no to get ahead of yourself, isn't it? 

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited September 2011

    Also had a stage 1 melanoma, 18 years ago.

    Hope there is a benign explanation for the liver masses.  Good luck tomorrow!

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  • theresa45
    theresa45 Member Posts: 314
    edited September 2011

    I'm praying for good results for you tomorrow! 

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited September 2011

    Cydz, I was told after an ultrasound (about 20 years ago) that I had tumours on my liver. They didn't use the word lesion back then. I was freaking out as I was about to get married for the second time! We cried during the service at the "till death do we part" words and it took some of the joy out of the day.

    What I finally found out was they were just 'fatty' areas of my liver! Ultrasound can't tell the difference. So, a good ending to something that almost ruined my wedding day. They are gone now, as the liver is very good at regenerating itself (if it is healthy). I'm telling you this so you know there are other reasons to have areas of concern on your liver.

    I pray you have the good results I had!

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  • DFC1994
    DFC1994 Member Posts: 163
    edited October 2011

    I am going through these issues now. I have had what I believed to be gall bladder attacks for a while now.Just so happened I had one Sunday night and had an appointment with my BS Monday morning. I mentioned this to him and he said it sounded like gall bladder and ordered an US. Was able to get that done the same day. The results showed no gall stones but showed what represents hepatic steatosis. The nurse called yesterday and said he wants me to have a hida scan with injection. I have that done this coming up Monday.

    I am so scared i have liver mets.

    for those who did how did it present and so on?

    Thanks Dee

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  • Georgigirl
    Georgigirl Member Posts: 14
    edited October 2011

    I am a little concerned myself. In Nov of 2010 I was told they found a spot on my liver and my Oncologist ordered an MRI. It came back and I waited in the room in fear until the PA came in and said nothing to worry about. Just a cyst. Whew!! Then the Onc. came in and said can't be so sure. Let's do another MRI in 6 months. At that time I was contemplating Zometa and went for a 2nd opinion (which ended up getting 3 opinions..long story) which helped take my mind off the spot. Still I asked each oncologist their opinion of the spot along with Zometa. One said...test again in 3 months. Another said just a cyst. And, the 3rd, which I switched to said nothing to worry about...can tell it's a cyst because is or isn't solid (I forget which...chemo brain.) Still kept nagging away in the back of my mind. Anyway I worried and worried,  wrote to Johns Hopkins (they said...yes...test again), and fianlly got a prescription for another MRI (at 8 this coming Monday) from my breast surgeon. He felt it was nothing and not worry too, but added was easy for him to say not being the patient and offered a prescription if it would help ease my mind. I jumped at it, but of course now I am terrified to get the results.

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  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 2,115
    edited October 2011

    Good luck Georgigirl and I am hoping it is just a cyst (very common), or a fatty spot - ANYTHING - as long as it's not cancer related. 

    Cydz:  How are you?  How are you making out with your situation.  Please let us know if you can.

    Wishing you both nothing but the best,

    Linda

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  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited October 2011

    My liver mets were symptomless.  

    How were they found?  I had a backache which I complained to my onc about in December, right after I finished herceptin.  He did a CT scan and it came up clean. I saw him again in April and my back pain was still there, so he repeated the scan.  This time, it showed 3 lesions in my liver suspicious for metastases.  They did a biopsy to be sure and yes, it was cancer.

    But, the back pain was unrelated and I still have it.  I have been completely scanned and tested and no cancer anywhere else, so the back pain is just normal back pain that millions of people have.  Good thing I had it and good thing my oncologist doesn't mind multiple scans, otherwise we never would have found it until way too late. 

    There are lots of things it could be.  It could be a hemangioma, it could be fatty liver disease, it could be cysts.  So, don't get too far ahead of yourself before you have to.  Even the CT might not be defnitive - apparently, the liver is a hard place to get a read on.

    If it is mets, well, there are lots of treatments for us.  I just had half my liver removed on the 3rd, and a portion of the right that had a little spot ablated.  This was done with curative intent and I now consider myself cancer-free.

    Chemo shrunk them too ahead of time.  

    Good luck, I know you are going to be extremely nervous but try to take your mind off of it and enjoy your weekend.  I wish you ladies nothing but the best. 

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  • janetwit
    janetwit Member Posts: 30
    edited October 2011

    I was dx with liver mets in Nov 05.  I've had 2 surgeries and I've lost count on the chemos, but I'm still moving and living with this chronic disease. I treat it like I'm a diabetic.   The only way they can be sure it's cancer in your liver is to have a biopsy.  I had 2 before we started my chemo.  Be persistant.  If you don't have a good feeling about what the doctor is telling you, keep getting other opinions.  I had 3 before I felt at peace with my current doctor. I had to go to Chicago to find him, but you do what you have to do if you can.  He never has anything negative to say about my disease.  He says there is always something that will be available.    I truly don't think I'd be here if I had continued to see the 1st one.  He was not very aggressive.  Good luck to you all and Georgiagirl, I'm a Georgiagirl as well.  Just living in Alabama at the moment.  Stay positive and have faith.  You'll be amazed at how that will get you through.  Good Luck!!  

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  • Cydz
    Cydz Member Posts: 157
    edited October 2011

    HI All, well I wish I had good news, but I don't. The liver biopsy showed carcinoma but they are still trying to deterime origin, since I also had melanoma I am complicated. I also have lesions in my lungs and a supspicious spot on my shoulder blade. These are all confirmed by a PET scan. I'm a bit aggravated with my onc as we met with her 10/7 and she said they would run more tests, now 10 days later still no results. I am not taking this laying down, however. I am getting a second opinion at MD Anderson tomorrow and also have an appt. at the Mayo on Thurs. The only symptom I have had was a big pain on the right side. I thought it was some kind of stones or appendix. It was a sharp pain, like a labor pain. Not ebbing, though. It only lasted for a while and then I only had pain when I breathed in. Now I am aware of the area, but have not experienced that same kind of pain. The other thing, and I am going to take this as a good sign, at least that I am basically very healthy, is that my labs are normal. All of them. So what does that mean? I have no idea! One of my masses is over 6cm, how can that not show up in my labs? I am grateful it is not impacting liver function! I will know more this week, in the meantime, I appreciate your kind words and concern!

    Cindy 

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  • sweetbean
    sweetbean Member Posts: 1,931
    edited October 2011

    Oh Cydz,

    I am so sorry - that totally sucks.  Please keep us posted on your treatment plan - I hope whatever they give you gets you back to NED! 

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  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited October 2011

    I'm so sorry you got this news. They saw a spot on my lung too but it turned out to be nothing so hopefully the same will be true for you.  Always remember that there are tons of good treatments out there and new ones being developed all the time!   Come join us in the Stage IV section - lots of nice women there who will know a lot about what you are facing.

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  • Mazy1959
    Mazy1959 Member Posts: 1,431
    edited October 2011

    Cyds, My labs were fine too. I understand your frustration. My tumor markers were unchanged in nearly 4 yrs and were 26 when I was diagnosed with bone mets. Tumor markers arent an exact science and even my other blood work was fine. Just kick cancer butt and I wish you the best. Hugs, Mazy

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  • MJLToday
    MJLToday Member Posts: 2,068
    edited October 2011

    Cydz I am sorry to hear your news.  I hope they can figure out what is going on quickly, and there are good treatments available to you.

    My liver bloodwork has always come back within normal limits (until recently), even with lots of large tumors (> 6 cm).  The liver is a tough organ and is able to compensate for lots of these types of things. 

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited October 2011

    Ah crap, Cydz!!! All I can say is that maybe if your bloodwork is okay is that the tumours haven't begun to impact the liver function, so that would be a good thing? I do know that you can lose a lot of your liver still be okay. I've heard it can grow back, but I don't know if that's an urban legend....?

    Big HUGZ to {{{{{{{{{{{{{{ YOU! }}}}}}}}}}}}}}

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  • Georgigirl
    Georgigirl Member Posts: 14
    edited October 2011

    Cydz...I am sorry to read your news. But... I know the liver can regenerate and  I have read of people on here with liver tumors who either with surgery or chemo or both are NED today. I am praying that happens for you!! I am hoping your second opinion gives good news. Please let us all know as soon as you can 

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  • Georgigirl
    Georgigirl Member Posts: 14
    edited October 2011

    I am crying as I write this because my news is good. I just found out my liver spot has not changed and they are saying it is absolutely a cyst. I have been afraid since last December and kept putting off the MRI. As my daughter said...."you can have good luck too, can't you mom?" 

    LRM216: Thank you for your positive thoughts.

    Janetwit: Thank you for your support too! Oh, and I am actually not from Georgia...although I love it there. Georgianna was my mom's name and I use Georgigirl as my pen name here for luck. My actual name is Barb

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  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited October 2011

    I just had surgery to remove half my liver, (October 3rd) and now I am NED.  Yes, your liver does regenerate and quickly too.  

    If you are very healthy, and only have mets to the liver, and only a few, you might be able to have them resected, as I did.  So far, it's a pretty rare operation - as far as I know I'm the only person on this board that has had it.  More common is RAF (radiofrequence ablation) where they burn the mets out. A newer one, one of our members is getting it, is treatment with spheres of chemo.  They surgically put beads of chemo inside that kill the cancer.    Also, there are lots of good chemos that can shrink those suckers down to nothing. 

    So you see, it's not hopeless and you can now live many years when it's in the liver.  Don't read all those stats you'll find online.  Newer therapies are awaiting you! 

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  • hydeskate
    hydeskate Member Posts: 297
    edited October 2011

    Abraxane and AC obliterated all the spots in my liver, they had planned to use a cyberknife on a spot the size of the dime that remained after the Abraxane but after 4 rounds of AC the spot "poof" disappeared so no cyberknife was needed. 

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited October 2011

    Georgiagirl, yes, you can have good luck too. Congrats!

    What great experiences of liver mets followed your post! Cydz, what options have they given you? Coolbreeze is the latest liver metster I know of, and look at her treatment!! NED immediately. You are still in my prayers.

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  • Cydz
    Cydz Member Posts: 157
    edited October 2011

    Thank you all again, I am touched by your support. I have ditched my first oncologist who walked in and said to me "How do you attract all this stuff, you have a smoker's tumor!" I had melanoma and bc at the same time in 2009, which is what she was referring too, but still... I have had two second opinions, one at the new MD Anderson in AZ and today at the Mayo in AZ. I thought Anderson was my choice, but the onc at the Mayo was outstanding and I felt a connection and a positive vibe along with her discussion re. options. She was very matter of fact, but with a great personality and sense of humor, which is so important to me. She is the only dr. to discuss what would be best for me as a BRCA 1 with triple negative. Said we would need to treat is systemically and could then consider surgical or radio ablation as options down the road if nec. Said her goal was to get me as close to cured as possible, NED. She was very upbeat. My first onc was so flustered it was bizarre, but both her and the dr from Anderson said surgery was not an option. I like that the Mayo seemed open minded. I feel so good about this!! Unfortunately the spots in my lungs are malignant. I asked her today if I was in a worse place because it was in both my liver and lungs and she said the tumor burden in my lungs was so low that it was really not of such great concern to her!! So thankful for her experience and confidence!!! I have to add both Anderson and the Mayo thought it was a bit nutty for my onc to suggest lung cancer when all signs point to mets, with my history and how, when and where triple neg returns. Never thought I would pray for a bc dx!! LOL.

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited October 2011

    Cydz, I just saw this thread and I'm so sorry to read that you're dealing with bc again.   But I'm very happy that you've found The Mayo.  I was there last month for a consult my DH wanted, and we were so impressed with the docs there.  I don't think you'd get better care anywhere.  And I truly believe your new onc's upbeat nature and confidence is due to the great results she's used to achieving.

    Glad you're in such competent hands, and praying for some good news as you work through this ~   (((Hugs)))   Deanna 

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  • Mazy1959
    Mazy1959 Member Posts: 1,431
    edited October 2011

    Cydz so happy you are in capapble hands. Hugs, Mazy

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  • alesta29
    alesta29 Member Posts: 1,505
    edited October 2011

    Cydz

    Good to hear you have found someone who you can connect with and have trust in - it's half the battle! Good luck!

    Laurie x 

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  • Lauriesh
    Lauriesh Member Posts: 692
    edited October 2011

    Hi Cydz,

    I also wanted to post to give you some encouragement. I was diagnosed with 2 liver tumors in 7/10. One was 11 cm.  I did Taxotere/ Herceptin and then had rfa and I am now NED.

    I am glad you found an onc who is positive and encouraging. 

    Good luck

    Laurie

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  • Cydz
    Cydz Member Posts: 157
    edited October 2011

    Thank you everyone! Laurie so happy to hear you are NED. I am thrilled with my plan. Being triple negative, however, there are no maintenance therapies for me, so hearing how optimistic my dr is is very encouraging!

    Cindy 

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