Small liver lesion

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Brightsky
Brightsky Member Posts: 45
edited October 2019 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Hi everyone. I just got out of the hospital with an episode of diverticulitis which is turning out to be my archenemy. I had a CT scan and as luck would have it, they found a sub-centimeter, hypoenhancing lesion that is too small to characterize in my liver. I guess liver mets show up as hypoenhancingbut also other benign liver things can too. I finished chemo and surgery 3 1/2 years ago for stage I TNBC. The hospital doctor told me to message my oncologist and let her know about it so they can decide next steps. I've not heard back from onc yet. I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this and it was nothing hopefully. Thanks

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  • BevJen
    BevJen Member Posts: 2,523
    edited June 2019

    Hi, there,

    On my most recent scans in May, much to my surprise, they found a 2 cm lesion and about 5 sub centimeter lesions as well.This was on an MRI of my abdomen. The CT scan and a PET/CT only showed a slight "wrinkle" in the same area. My takeaway from that is that the MRI was most likely more precise. That's one thing you may want to talk with your MO about -- should you get further testing?

    In about a week, I am going in for a microwave ablation on my largest lesion. One doc who I consulted (interventional radiologist) suggest not to mess right now with the other lesions because they "don't look" like they are independently vascularized at this point and probably can be handled by a change in meds (I've been on letrozole). All of my lesions showed up as hypo intense, from what I can tell from the MRI report.

    If there is just one lesion and no other mets (looks like that from your signature line), I might want to consult an interventional radiologist. From my own experience, it seems like a lot of MOs don't like to go that route (very dependent, it seems, upon your MO, where you are located, etc.) because they prefer to stick to treating all mets with systemic treatment. I am doing that, too, but I insisted on doing this too.

    Good luck! Hopefully it turns out to be nothing.

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  • Brightsky
    Brightsky Member Posts: 45
    edited June 2019

    Thank you, BevJen. Sounds like I definitely need an MRI. I will let you know what MO says about this. I have had an intermittent dull ache on my right side for about 5 months now. I just assumed it was IBS. I had a CT for a diverticulitis flare up 2 years ago and my liver was fine so it looks like this is relatively new. Good luck with your ablation. Thank you for the advice and for sharing your experience

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  • Brightsky
    Brightsky Member Posts: 45
    edited September 2019

    I saw my onc 2 weeks ago. I have to wait 6 months and have another CT (chest, abdomen and pelvis) to see if my liver lesion changes. The fellow (teaching hospital) I saw before onc came in showed it to me. It just looks like a small black area, about the size of a pencil eraser in the middle of my liver. I can't believe I have to wait so long to get a definitive answer. I love my onc but these doctors have no idea how torturous waiting is.

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  • Micmel
    Micmel Member Posts: 9,450
    edited September 2019

    Bright sky~Even if it does turn out to be cancer, the fact that it’s that small is wonderful. I had the same thing happen to me. They performed a liver resection and got that bad boy out of there. I’ve been nead for three years. They can use ablation, r-90. There are so many things. That they can do to remove that! I hope it isn’t of course (of course!) but I didn’t want you to think the worst. Sometimes they arebenign hemangiomas. Which is what I was hoping mine was. Yours could very well be! My onc said very common. Breathe deep! Hugs !

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  • Brightsky
    Brightsky Member Posts: 45
    edited September 2019

    Micmel, Thank you. How big was your lesion? Did you only have one? Did they follow it with repeat scan before they decided on ablation? Sorry for so many questions. It’s absolutely wonderful that you at NEAD!! Do you know if Hemangiomas can just appear? My liver was clear on a CT 2 years ago.
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  • Micmel
    Micmel Member Posts: 9,450
    edited September 2019

    Brightsky~When I saw your post I had to respond, same size an eraser pencil head! No interference with function. The other thing that struck me was also the fact that I also had a ct scan five months prior to my diagnosis because of an irritation in my intestines. It wasn't there then. Five months after it was there. He told me yes they can appear in a short time. So it could very. Well be a hemangioma!!! Don't loose hope! And like I said resection/ablation/y90. If it is seek an IR, interventional radiologist to help determine as well. Don't take no for an answer. My doctors got aggressive. And If you can take it. It's worth the reward of Nead. I've been on ibrance for 36 months now. Three years nead with “no measurable disease". So we are hoping it's officially annihilated.!!!!!

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  • Brightsky
    Brightsky Member Posts: 45
    edited September 2019

    That is just fantastic. I’m so happy for you! It sounds like you have a great team of doctors. I’m remaining hopeful as I had a great response to chemo so odds are in my favor that it is benign. The wait is excruciating at times but I’m very busy and I have lots of distractions. Thank you for the encouragement :-)
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  • Micmel
    Micmel Member Posts: 9,450
    edited September 2019

    absolutely anytime. I wish you the absolute best beautiful, btw.... same AC red devil. 4 rounds. Allergic to taxol, so had to have abraxane. 9 round of that. So it seems aggressive is what they did!! Wish you nothing but the best !

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  • danix5
    danix5 Member Posts: 755
    edited October 2019

    bright Sky, I too have the dreaded diverticulitis and my CT scan from May 2019 kidney infarcts (caused by Arimidex) did not show hyper vascular lesions (2) and spleen possibly cysts but this weeks run to ER for archenemy diverticulitis showed all that... scans were almost 5 months apart. I am waiting on Onco and surgeon call backs.

    Side note what are you doing with diverticulitis? I’ve been told several times when in hospital for treatment to have a foot of my Colon removed.

    I have not so far.

    I am so worried about the lesions in liver which does state it could be atypical hemangiomas

    Thank you and hope you have good news

    Dan

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  • Brightsky
    Brightsky Member Posts: 45
    edited October 2019
    Ugh. The dreadful diverticulitis...I was told I would need surgery too if it kept happening. I had a small flare up again about a month ago. No scan. I just went to PCP and was put on oral antibiotics which I don’t tolerate well. I avoid food that I know are triggers for me, popcorn, nuts, raspberries. I am taking a small amount of fiber (children’s dose gummy). More than that causes other GI issues. I don’t really know how to avoid it all together. Please let me know what your onc and surgeon say about your liver lesions. Do you know how big they are?
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