Stage IV Breast Cancer....Met. to liver?

Question

Hello Everyone, I have been researching a lot about breast cancer today because I have it.

This is what I have
Stage iV Met. Breast Cancer
4 infected nodes
2 tumors.....1) 3cm 2)1cm
Cancer cells on LIver but not a tumor
HER2/pos.

I am on my first round of CMF chemotherapy, and I take Herceptin every three weeks.

Everything I find on the internet isabout having 12-24 months to live. My onocologist has never said anything about my life being that short. I know there is a chance that I won't beat this, espeically if it spreads anywhere else......it was caughter earlier then one thinks, the spread anyway, cause I had a misscarriage and they said the higher hormones when I was pregnant is when it started to spread......

Any information or any websites where there is info on surviours would be great. Thanks.

Answer 1

There are statistics and there are individuals. You're one of the individuals and the numbers you find are not rules you have to live by, they are what other people have experienced.

Perhaps your oncologist thinks your situation is better than that of the people in those studies you have read.

Have a look at the Herceptin news.

Answer 2

I was diagnosed with stage IV met. breast cancer 1 year ago. It went to my liver. I too, am Her2+ and estrogen-
I started Herceptin the week after my biopsy along with chemo. By oct/2005 the tumor went from a 10 to a 7. By december/2005 it was gone! I have been on Herceptin ever since. My chemo ended in Feb/2006. Don't read anything on the internet. Everyone is different. Herceptin is a miracle. I have a friend in treatment with the same for 12 years! If or when Herceptin stops working, theres even newer drugs. You will be fine. God bless.

Answer 3

Oncologists have to be very circumspect and careful in how they word such information. People are beating the odds, in both directions all the time. The information you are relying on is an average, after all.

I know there are people who have had similar findings and have lived many years, and others who have lasted a mere weeks.

Data that are old enough to be "quotable" are data that were collected years, if not decades ago, and with the refining of chemotherapy regimens, empirical data indicate, of course, that people are out-living the odds, or the current regimens would quickly be abandoned.

I think you can buy green bananas, providing you actually LIKE bananas and are going to eat them when they ripen.

I can't guarantee you anything, nor can your oncologist. Every case is different. As they taught us in medical school: "Tumors don't read the medical journals".

Your life is so vastly different that you imagined a very short time ago. If you do not have a good and large support system of family and friends, I humbly suggest you find a support group. They can be so very helpful at this stage in your life, and you will have a group of friends who really understand to celebrate with when you have a good response to the chemotherapy.

Best wishes in this goal

Answer 4

I don't know if this helps. I have been reading that alternative treatment may compliment your medical treatment. But I must say that you are brave!

Have you heard of coffee enema? The benefits are too much to explain here, and perhaps you can read from the source. I find there is really no harm trying out.

And there is this good article that I have found on the website, which I would recommend to read, that in the website itself, you would be able to find more articles about the subject. Basically, chemo destroy your cancer cells, but it is at the same time, killing your good cells which you need for immunity. After every chemo, your liver has to work extra hard to remove the toxins. Coffee enema is known as removing toxins from the liver.

Try taking organic food for your meals, and lots of juice from fruits, carrots and vegetables. You have to use the right type of juicer, so that the enyzmes are not destroyed in the process.

I wish you well, and hope that in the process of reading those articles, it will lead you to better information.

Answer 5

My experience in working with an oncologist (for my father's pancreatic cancer) is that they won't tell you how long you've got until you ask the question. I am sure they don't offer this information readily in that #1 there is no definitive answer as each cancer is an individual case and could vary only slightly or more than slightly from the norm, and #2, once the information has been given on their estimate of longevity, the patient inadvertently accepts this as a given and conforms to those parameters. Regardless, I think it is important to ask. Otherwise you could be just hoping against hope and not make plans that should otherwise be made.

On another note I wish you God's blessings and best of luck in your search for answers and a full recovery.

Answer 6

Beating Cancer with Nutrition - Patrick Quillen
Cancer and Vitamin C - Linus Pauling
How to Prevent and Treat Cancer with Natural Medicine - Murray

Cancer Treatment Center of America
1-800-234-9131
Cancercenter.com

Answer 7

You can beat it. I was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer and my oncologist gave me 2-3 years to live. It's been a year, but I went to him for a check up a couple days ago and he told me that I was not a textbook case and that I should NOT be doing as well as I am. It should be the contrary. God is the only reason I am where I am at today. Consider turning to Him with this. He knows your days, when you were born and when you will die. Trust Him. If you would like to chat, you can get me on yahoo messenger at cheesecake_lady03. God speed to you!

Answer 8

I had the HER2/pos. too. I was stage 2. I am four years out. There is always hope. Take care of yourself, mentally and physically while on chemo. I quit reading the odds and just concentrated on getting better. I did not like those numbers hanging over my head. I have a really good oncologist that explains everything. Good luck. Keep us posted.

Answer 9

My wife has had a recurrence of Her2 breast cancer. She is taking Herceptin weekly. Here's a really good website for you to learn and share. It's called the HER2 Support Group.

I wish you tons of good luck and send my prayers.

Answer 10

Stage IV is end-stage. There is no stage V. It's rare that anyone with stage IV metastatic cancer makes a complete turn-around, and life expectancy is statistically low. Your oncologist didn't discuss any of this with you? If not, I'd recommend you change doctors. Best wishes, and keep fighting :)