Just Diagnosed : Liver, Bone Mets and Malignant Pleural Effusion

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  • EmilyInOntario
    EmilyInOntario Member Posts: 626
    edited July 2014

    Jaytee...I've had trouble eating and drinking too. Dietician told me I was going to end up in hospital if I didn't get more fluids down so I'm really trying. Haven't managed the 10 cups she recommended but make sure you get the fluids and some protein down. I have found the stemetil for nausea helps when needed. I tried the boost juice and it's very sweet but maybe with ice? How often are you getting chemo?

  • Jaytee
    Jaytee Member Posts: 1,211
    edited July 2014

    Emily.....my treatment is every 3 weeks. After the next one she is going to order scans of the lung and abdomen and see what is happening and we will continue on or change to something else. Even before I started treatment, my appetite was going down, I think it's more related to what is going on with the liver.  Seems like I can eat about half of what a regular portion usually is, and I don't even feel very hungry at the usual meal times.  I know I have to make myself eat, and some of the things that taste best to me right now are yogurt topped with some homemade granola, fruits, (the stores here are having some great sales and I have been enjoying blueberries and blackberries and watermelon).  I will try one of the protein drinks tomorrow...maybe blend some fruit into a vanilla one.  I know I need to drink a lot of water too..I am probably not getting 10 cups a day either. I will work on that too.  Hope you will find some foods that taste good to you. We do need to keep our strength up as we go through treatment. Goodnight and as I say that I am raising a big glass of water  in a toast to us for good results from our treatment! :)



  • EmilyInOntario
    EmilyInOntario Member Posts: 626
    edited July 2014

    Hi Jaytee...yes, I too had issues with eating before the chemo which I thought was just a combination of already existing stomach issues and stress but you are probably right that the cancer in the liver might be also affecting appetite. I wish I understood this disease better. I was eating and drinking better by day 6 after the first round of chemo but I had my second round of chemo yesterday so we'll see how this goes. They changed my taxol to abraxane yesterday and in speaking to the chemo pharmacist he feels I should have less side effects. I sure hope so as I don't want to spend all summer feeling sick. He also said I could see an improvement in the breathing by round 3 which I am counting on so I don't have to keep getting my pleural cavity drained.

    *raising my glass of water to you back* Here's to us and all our cancer sisters struggling through this disease.

  • Jaytee
    Jaytee Member Posts: 1,211
    edited July 2014

    Hi Emily....hope you are feeling ok after your treatment. I had my 2nd one on Wed and I am not feeling too bad. Had a pretty good day today. Was able to eat without too much trouble...didn't drink enough water though...ginger ale has been tasting good to me, but I know I need to watch the sugar. My breathing was much improved after just the one thoracentesis...so luckily I have not had to do that again. The nurse described the procedure as an angry bee sting...and it sure did feel like that to me. I am anxious to see results from the scan we will have after the next treatment. The cough I had that led me back to the doctor has definitely resolved.  I hope that you will see great improvement in your breathing!  I was tired earlier and napped a bit between 6 and 8....but I should get to bed...I do seem to be able to sleep ok...I remember my first go round of chemo...seemed like I would wake up at 3 am...I called it the chemo hour. Not noticing it much this time. I hope you are able to get good rest....good night and prayers that the chemo is directed to and attacking those cells that need to go!   ((Hugs))

  • EmilyInOntario
    EmilyInOntario Member Posts: 626
    edited July 2014

    Hi Jaytee..just checking in to make sure you are drinking enough..;) How are you feeling now?

  • Jaytee
    Jaytee Member Posts: 1,211
    edited July 2014

    Good morning Emily.......I have had a rough few days. I felt so good back on Fri when I posted. I had a neulasta shot the day after my treatment and I really started feeling the effects of that into the weekend.....really felt knocked down!  Such are the day to day nature of these darn side effects!  I did have a good lab reading yesterday though. My wbc was very good.....so the neulasta did its job. I am sitting here now with a nice big glass of water to have with breakfast!  I have an easy day today...don't have to be anywhere and I am looking forward to getting some extra rest. How are you doing? Have you been needing neulasta after your treatment too?  I hope you will have a good day.

    judy


  • Scotty
    Scotty Member Posts: 18
    edited December 2014

    Hi, i was first diagnosed in Aug 2011. I started feeling ill in Dec 2013 and developed a slight cough. Was diagnosed with a malignant plural effusion and nodules on both lungs in Feb 2014. I was supposed to start chemo in March but was put forward for a trial. I had to wait 6 weeks to start it. The day before I started they said I was too ill for the trial. I started weekly taxol 2 days later. I had had both lungs drained by this point an a pleuridisis on one, which didn't work very well. I had quite a bit of fluid on both lungs but the onc said they wouldn't drain them again and the fluid would be reabsorbed as the chemo took effect. I didn't get much better and a scan after 7 weeks suggested the tumours had grown. Having said that it had been 10 weeks since the last scan when I started treatment. The onc was then worried it was lung cancer rather than breast. She started me on letrozole anyway but I went in for a biopsy and a drain and pleuridisis on the other lung. It was definitely breast cancer and still er/pr positive. The letrozole started working instantly and after 6 weeks the tumours had all halfed in size and there was only a residual amount of fluid on one lung. I feel perfectly healthy for now. My next scan is on 7th Jan. My lungs feel a bit tight when I sneeze but think that may be the pleuridisis and I have arthritic pain in one knee. Apart from that I am well. Just hope the scan shows further improvement.

  • VintageGal1111
    VintageGal1111 Member Posts: 705
    edited January 2015

    Hi Scotty`

    I had a recurrance while still on Herceptin for HER2. It was a pain around my left rib that made me mention it to the dr. I thought I'd hurt myself at the gym but it wasn't getting better. After an xray then a scan we knew it was malignant pleural effusion.

    Right now I am doing..ok....with a chest catheter. Nurse was coming in to drain & redress it every other day. Now hubby is doing it.

    Hope you continue to do alright!!!!! I go for chemo #6 tomorrow, half way through (again). Not sure it's working.

    All the best~

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2015

    Vintage: I too have had pain in left rib but it comes and goes. Was your pain constant all the time? I swear most days there is not one place in this body that doesn't have an ache or pain. I don't have trouble breathing but now and then it feels like an elephant is standing in the middle of my chest. And that is scary since have had two friends dx'd with tumors to the sternum. Stay strong !

  • infoLouise23
    infoLouise23 Member Posts: 3
    edited January 2015

    Hope I am in the right place. I now have metastatic BC to the liver after a clear petscan Nov 2012 after a mastectomy left breast IDC stage 2B.

    It started last April 2014 when I finally got a petscan and CA27 blood test. (was on daily femera pill) It took me almost 16 mos to get follow up from Nov 2012 because I tripped and fractured leg and wrist, then lost insurance, moved from Las Vegas to Pensacola and had to wait til turned 65 and then no one in this area was taking new patients with medicare. I was shocked that it went from clear to stage 4 since I was a little fatigued but no other symptoms - no pain. Had plural effusions and liver tumors.They said they could biopsy the liver tumors which shocked me since the only thing on prior scans in 2011 showed tiny shadows on the liver and then nothing. Of course I opted for the biopsy over a thoracentesis test. The one I had in 2011 was horrid and no cancer in the fluid anyway. Of all I have been thru - that was the worst.

    Anyway, I had gemzar for 3 months and not much happened. Changed oncologists and now taking daily Arimidex pill and monthly Faslodex shots - but they are expensive - my copay is $400 ea. Just got petscan report and my lungs are clear and liver tumors stable.

    I am really looking for someone else who has BC that has gone to their liver. I've looked at many blogs and no one. I know I can't be the only one. It was suggested that I consult with a doc next week regarding chemo embolism so cut off the blood supply to the 3 largest tumors in my liver. Anyone ever do that? Sounds interesting.

    I am also curious about other side effects or symptoms either digestive or pain etc that anyone has with BC in the liver. I have no symptoms which puzzles my oncologist.Thinning hair and soft nails seems to be more of a side effect of the chemo shot or pills.

    Thanks and blessings to all on this journey

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited January 2015

    infoLouise23-

    First, we want to welcome you to our community here at BCO. We're sorry for the circumstances that bring you here, but we're glad you've found us, and hope you find it to be a place of support and encouragement.

    You will probably be interested in reading through our liver mets forum, which you can find here: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topic/8.... It's long, but lots of good info there, and plenty of other Stage IV members with liver mets you can connect with.

    We're thinking of you, and wish you well as you begin this journey.

    The Mods

  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited March 2015

    Vintage Gal1111 passed this morn.My heart is so very heavy.

     


     

  • Beachbum1023
    Beachbum1023 Member Posts: 1,417
    edited March 2015

    70Charger, I am so very sorry for the loss of your dear friend Vintage Gal. I hope you find comfort from all of the hugs sent your way. I hope she passed in peace, and that her heart was filled with love from all of her family and friends. Hugs, Cheryl

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