Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) & Mets

Cafelovr
Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
edited April 2016 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

I searched for this topic, and didn't see anything current. Have any of you dealt with this?

I was recently diagnosed with NAFLD after having emergency gallbladder surgery last month. the ultrasound showed something "funky" on my liver. I am having endoscopy on March 14 to check my esophagus, stomach and digestive tract. I don't have any of the usual risk factors, but I have been taking Tamoxifen since July 2010 and had 4 separate radiation fields, including my esophagus. I know there is a link between Tam & NAFLD. I also have mets to my liver, but those have been resolved since May 2010.

There's always something new!

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  • Heidihill
    Heidihill Member Posts: 5,476
    edited March 2016

    I'm sorry to hear about the new "funkiness." Don't really know much about NAFLD, but I hope the endoscopy gave you some answers, and that it wasn't anything to worry about. Thinking of you.

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  • ibcmets
    ibcmets Member Posts: 4,286
    edited March 2016

    My friend has this as well. She read up on it and found sometimes tamoxafin can cause this. She had a larger opening in her esophagus and when she had surgery; they had to close her up because her liver was much too large. She had to go off of tamaxafin. She does not have mets, just breast cancer which she had chemo & surgery for 4 or 5 years ago.

    Terri

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  • RonnieKay
    RonnieKay Member Posts: 2,067
    edited March 2016

    Hi Cafe...yikes, sorry about gall bladder surgery. I can't help on info for your dx, but I know that one of my scans said fatty liver, which scared me. My onc said it was probably a poor diet leading up to the scan, which was totally true as I'd been vacationing. Are you still having painful symptoms, or did surgery take care of that? I'm hoping there are no further complications...that the tests come out clean & you feel like yourself again very soon!

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  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited March 2016

    The pain is gone, but my digestive system is still jacked up. I can eat certain foods and have to run to the restroom 5 minutes later. I will spare you the details. Shocked

    My esophagus looked good. I had some inflammation in the lining of my stomach, so he took some biopsies. I'm still waiting for the results.

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  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited March 2016

    Well, the biopsies were negative, thank God! No cancer, no infection. So we just try to normalize the acid in my stomach. Geez!!!

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  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited March 2016

    Bon, I've heard about detoxing, but wouldn't know the first thing about it. I am on Protonix (2x/day) and Rx Zantac (1/day). I'm still having some heartburn issues though. Sometimes it just burns going up my chest. No esophagus damage though! I'm trying to think of what I'm doing differently, but coming up empty! This is frustrating!

    Yes, the biopsy was of my stomach lining.

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  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited March 2016

    They upped my meds just recently. I was on 1 Protonix in the a.m. about an hour before I eat breakfast. It was upped to 2 a couple of months ago, so the second one I take about 5 p.m. so I can eat when I get home from work. The Zantac, I take at bedtime. I guess that gets me through the night. He said I have an issue with acid.

    I have weaned myself on some meds. I took Neurontin and Tramadol, but ended those last year. I limit my ibuprofen and never take acetaminophen. I don't know what else I can cut. I take Tamoxifen, two blood pressure meds, baby aspirin (which could be a culprit...I don't take it everyday), and my happy pills. I also take calcium, B12, and biotin.

    Regarding diet, I guess I'm learning as I move on. Can't do the green peppers anymore!

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  • Heidihill
    Heidihill Member Posts: 5,476
    edited April 2016

    Great to hear the biopsies were normal!!

    Maybe if you avoid getting into bed or a horizontal position close to dinner time? I try to wait at least 3 hours after eating before lying down. This solved the problem for me when I was getting heartburn while on chemo. Calcium tablets also upset my tummy so I switched to milk and cheese. Hope you find something that works for you!

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  • artistatheart
    artistatheart Member Posts: 2,176
    edited April 2016

    Cafe, What a relief to hears all the tests were negative! Love the "happy pills" description.LOL! Calcium tablets can upset my stomach too so I take them with meals. Green peppers can be wicked on the stomach. Just curious, what do you think resolved the liver mets for you? Hope you figure it all out and feel better!

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  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited April 2016

    Herceptin. Plain and simple. I am HIGHLY Her2+++. I took hard chemo for 3 months, then switch to Taxol and Herp. I had to go off Taxol because of neuropathy, but continued the Herceptin. This was around March 2010, and my tumors had shrunk. By the time I started rads in May 2010, the tumors were gone. I'm still on my first line of treatment.

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  • artistatheart
    artistatheart Member Posts: 2,176
    edited April 2016

    Cafe, That is fantastic! Not sure if this would be a Tx for me whenever Faslodex fails because I am ILC but plan to research. May you continue on the first line for a very very long time. Thanks!

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  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited April 2016

    My mom is on a Faslodex/Ibrance regimen (Yes, she is Stage IV also). She failed Letrozole, Arimidex and Aromasin, and now does this cocktail. This is the closest to stable that she's been at in a LONG time. Good luck!! Keep in touch!

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