Recurrence of Breast cancer /Liver Biopsy question

Hi Nicole,

I am very sorry to read this post - but my saying that, does not begin to cover it.

A liver biopsy In Australia is done under conscious sedation and local anaesthesia. It can be uncomfortable but should not be painful. In this context it is tough emotionally ( if ever an understatement) - please get the premed you need and ask for additional sedation as/if you require it.

From the operator/radiology point of view - they image concomittantly with the biopsy - and have to get adequate tissue from the lesions - here the more good bites - the stronger the pathology analysis. So yes it helps if you can hold/be comfortable throughout the procedure, please get/ask for the sedation you need before they start. A pathologist can only comment on what theyhave under a microscope.

Many ladies on the liver thread have had liver biopsies.

Nicole, two lesions are unusual but you will not know exactly what you are dealing with until they do the biopsy. There are a number of benign lesions that show up on scans.

( kidney biopsies tend to be more painful than liver - its the approach)

(())

I had a liver biopsy with ultrasound in January. It was not painful at all and I was awake but somewhat sedated. Doc said they may need to people to take some deep breaths to get best access so they want you awake. (Maybe that was just in my case, I don't know?) I got a calming drug first which was great, then the twilight anasthesia kicked in. I was aware but very relaxed. Good luck to you

Nicole, I just want to add that the whole process is upsetting! I hope your results are good, but I definitely know the stomach sinking feeling when you’re told there’s something that needs to be checked out. Sending you positive vibes

Nicole

The liver thread is " How are people with liver mets doing?" its stage 4 only and maybe not that useful until you know what you are dealing with.

I am genuinely sorry about the unusual comment. It was not off the cuff but clearly not what you needed to hear.

What I was hoping to get across was you need to do what you have to do so for the time of the biopsy you are able to hold, deep breathe and function so they can get adequate and plenty of samples.

Please know that I hate scans, avoid them, have been known to miss them because I hate them...rebooked.

It might pay to ask whether besides histopathology they are sending samples for genetic testing ( Foundation 1 and Carris seem to be the ones in US) - so if this is a recurrence they have some idea oftreatable mutations ( that is still in its infancy, not always essential but may provide additional information). This is a question that only your oncologist can answer.

I have seen your post on chemo. Nicole - the answer is yes and no. Sensitivity to opiods - pain meds is usually opiod receptor mediated so it does not mean you will necessarily have chemo issues. Sensivity to other drugs may be related to your size and dose or liver metabolic capacity. And there is the allergy spectrum. If you let the oncolgy team know and are specific in what you reacted to - so make a clear list ( drug and reaction) - they will adjust your dose over time appropiatley so you will still be able to do your treatment, they will send you home with meds to treat side effects, and you might want to ask for pre chemo hydration - may help.

Nicole - you have figured out by now that I am practical and direct - when I had my stage 2 diagnosis I took my practical butt to my local doctor - and asked for sleeping tablets - I could just do the days but needed sleep. We women are so strong all the time....

Hugs

The one medication that helped me get through the panic was lorazepam. I took it for about 6 weeks till I knew what I was dealing with. I would suggest something like that while getting the liver biopsy and results. Good luck hope you get good news soon.

Hugs back to you, Nicole. We're with you, and praying. ❤️

Beesy

Thank you Beesy! Thank you Rosie. Ya know I know worrying is the worst and I almost felt relief when she spoke honestly to me about it. I am a Marine wife and like many women but especially those of us married to military men we like to prepare!!!! This is probably because we have to move every 3 years and sometimes sooner and unexpectedly. I do feel a little like "ok what do I need to do". We are getting the biopsy results hopefully by Thursday and I need them to take with me because we have made the decision to go to where our son and fiancee are, also my mom and nephew, niece etc. Which is to Long Island. I plan to get treatment at Memorial Slone Kettering. I was debating between there and MD Anderson but while I do feel that MD probably is slightly better, what little family we have is there in NY so my husband thinks it would be best to be there for treatment. I want to post and ask soooooo many questions about this but I know people want you to have the actual biopsy report before that so I am trying to wait. I just pray I can get some positive feed back on there and encouragement. Even thought I have the most amazing husband I sometimes feel so alone in this and I feel like only the women here can really "get It" . Thank you again ((((hugs))))

Hi Nic,

I read about your liver biopt. Fingers crossed all will turn out well. I had 3 spots on my liver as well-they saw on CT scan. A biopt isn’t done quickly here (netherlands) and since I have a tissue expander I can’t go into an mri to get a better image of my liver(magnet inside). So july first i get my diep flap surgery and after that I finally know more.

It is a scary rollercoaster all the time. And i can imagine the waiting is making you nervous. Thinking of you and keep us posted!

Monique

I pray with you. Stay strong

I have a question regarding recurrence. I was diagnosed with a recurrence on the mastectomy scar line one year ago.

My question is if you do have a recurrence is the breast cancer generally thought of as a chronic condition (which is what I recently heard when watching a  panel of doctors discuss this in a video), and simply in  remission when the cancer has been treated/surgically removed?

I see, I guess sometimes some of these terms are used interchangeably.

Yes, regarding recurrence and cure, having been through a recurrence and now on tamoxifen, it looks as if the stats for me show that at some point in time it is very likely 

 that it will return instead of being cured forever.  .I guess its just a wait and see what happens situation.

thank you Karen