Stage 4 De Novo 2016, Next line of treatment?

AGCol
AGCol Member Posts: 5
edited May 2018 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Hello All

I was diagnosed January 2016 with stage 4 BC with extensive metastasis to spine and pelvis (ER+ HER2-). I have been on the Letrozole/Ibrance combo successfully since February 2016 but it looks from my last CT scan that I now have some liver mets (small lesions all under 1 cm). Im a bit freaked out and trying to do some research. My onco is talking about several lines of treatment, depending on the results of a liver biopsy. (she says there's a 20-25% chance the lesions are not cancerous). Im curious if there are others with de novo diagnosis and what their next line of treatment was, after Letrozole/Ibrance failed? I have followed this group, since diagnosis and it's been a huge help in knowing I'm not alone and researching information and side effects.

Thanks much for your help! Ann

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited May 2018

    Hi! I'm so sorry about the progression. The first one is always really hard. You're convinced this stuff will never grow and then whammo! The cancer buggers are sneaky.

    The usual 'next' thing is Faslodex. Fulvestrant. It's two shots in the rear every four weeks. You'll see most of the same side-effects as your current treatment but with better neutrophils.

    If these really are liver lesions your MO may want to move to Xeloda but I don't know what the evidence is for skipping the second and third line hormonals. I would think you would want to give them a try.

    You should ask bestbird for a copy of her document. It has all the treatments and all the references you could ever want.

    I wish you the best of luck and hope the next treatment will last for many years.


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  • AGCol
    AGCol Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2018

    Thank you much for your reply and kind words. My MO talked about Faslodex next, but I always feel the need to double check to be sure this is the right choice. Appreciate all the help and support on this sight, it's very helpful.

    Have a great night!

    Ann

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited May 2018

    Ann, in general the idea is to start with the least toxic treatments and move on to the more toxic. Of course every woman experiences drugs differently so what may be easy for me could be impossible for you and vice-versa.

    Quality of life should be the most important thing at this stage of the game.

    I took Faslodex for 4 years. Join the Faslodex Girls thread. At the top are all the tips you need to get the shots without pain.

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  • blainejennifer
    blainejennifer Member Posts: 1,848
    edited May 2018

    Might I put a small vote in for chemotherapy? I strongly believe that I'm as stable as I am, six years out, because my MO put me on a year of weekly taxol, right after I failed tamoxifen, about 6 months after I was diagnosed.

    I had a large disease volume in my bones, and the Taxol whittled it down, and it has never gotten that bad again (so far, all digits crossed).

    I read a lot of fear about chemo here, but I honestly believe that without that bout of Taxol, I might not be here. I'm one of those ER/PR+ people that don't respond all that well to endocrine therapies.

    Just my $.02,

    Jennifer :)

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