Scared about "something" in my liver

I can't help you but I can share anecdotal information from a friend who was Stage IV ovarian cancer...twice...and is NED after nearly 7 years now.  She told me that she's had several suspicious "things" show up on her liver, and gone through I think two biopsies...they were always clear. I'm hopeful for you because of what you've shared above. Let us know.

Claire in AZ

LadyK - I have a similar situation. A CT scan almost 2 years ago (after chemo-surgery-rads, at end of year of Herceptin) showed what the radiologist described thus:

“There is a small hypervascular area of
nodularity in the dome of the liver. This has an indeterminate appearance and
could represent a small hemangioma among other things. This appears to connect
with a vessel and could even represent a vascular malformation.”

My MO wanted a PET scan to check further, but insurance denied coverage. I was ready to go for DIEP flap reconstruction, and because I still had a TE in place, I couldn't have an MRI, so we waited a couple of months and had an MRI of my liver (abdomen) after the TE was removed. It was diagnosed as an "atypical hemangioma" and follow-up was recommended, which my MO decided means compare when I have future scans. These hemangiomas in the liver are very common, usually benign. No liver lesion was mentioned in my early diagnostic scans (MRI, PET/CT) before treatment 3 years ago, so I wonder if it was not present then, and whether chemo could have contributed to it -- nobody will confirm that one for me.

Last year I had a follow-up MRI and the report describes my liver lesion as
either a benign hemangioma or benign focal vascular shunting that is stable
since previous study, no new lesions. No follow-up indicated. 

Finally a few months ago I had a PET/CT scan, with no evidence of recurrence, but about the liver it says the lesion "does not appear to be associated with elevated metabolic activity on the the PET scan and is compatible with the previous diagnostic considerations of transient vascular shunting or hemangioma."

I hope your CT scan will be clear, but please don't let them hurry into a biopsy -- so invasive and I have heard it is painful and can bleed. Try to get another kind of scan (MRI or PET) before that. I wouldn't let a PCP decide this. Where is your MO -- still accessible after several years since diagnosis? But do realize that liver hemangiomas are often benign, so try your best to be "calm" while waiting for scans. If you can.

LadyK - it was unsettling for me too, to think after I had made it through treatment that I might actually have metastasis to the liver. But my MO and radiologists were confident the lesion was likely benign, and it required time to see if it changed. It hasn't in almost 2 years, so whew, it seems I got past that one. I spent a lot of time reading these boards and other websites for more information, and liver hemangiomas seem to be a fairly common and benign, often discovered in scans done for other reasons in non-cancer patients too.

I wish you well on an accurately-interpreted CT scan, and peace of mind while you wait. Let us know how it turns out.

I have elevated liver enzymes and went thru blood tests and ultrasound. They said I had fatty liver.  Then the next week I had a breast MRI and they saw a lesion on my liver that they were unable to characterize.  Went back to ultrasound and it turns out they couldn't see that part of liver.  So, I'm having a CT scan tomorrow.  I am nervous too, but my liver doc thinks it is a cyst.

Hi ladies!  I'm going to chime in and say that I really appreciate your similar stories.  My CT results today showed hypodensity in sections 5 and 6.  ? Cysts so onto ultrasound to double check.  You have all made me feel much better!   Good luck Mammalou and everyone else waiting for results!

I'll be right beside you holding my breath too!  Sucks indeed!

I had my liver ultrasound today.   Official result is a cyst!  Happy dance  Hope you all get similar results!

Hi,

I'm new to writing but not to the discussion boards. I posted yesterday but i think i was in the wrong forum. I was diagnosed with triple negative, stage 2, no node involvement in February 2012 at the age of 43. I did neo adjuvant chemo of Taxol and CA and had a complete pathological response. I then opted for double mastectomy as my mother had breast cancer at my age too. I then did radiation. I have been feeling great and feeling optimistic. I had my 6 month checkup with my oncologist this morning and he wants to do an ultrasound on my liver as he feels it being slightly enlarged. I'm freaking out right now!!!! Has anyone experienced enlarged liver and if so, what were some of the outcomes?? I have a feeling of being full all the time and generally low on energy. Anyone.