Chemo/Spread of Cancer

QQN4answers
QQN4answers Member Posts: 16
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi
First let me say Thank You to all of you who took the time to answer my questions about life after a mastectomy. I've decided that there is a life after a mastectomy and went ahead and scheduled the surgery. Today my Onc. called and said that my liver panel was off and my tumor markers were up. Less then a month ago I completed 4 rounds of A/C and 4 rounds of Taxol. My question is this, has anyone had their cancer spread while on Chemo? If so how did your Onc. treat it? Thanks Liz

Comments

  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #2
    I finished chemo 4/2001 w/ radiation 5/2001. I was diagnosed w/ a bone metastases 8/2001. Looking back we could see the 'bone cyst' was present on x-ray 5/01. Since it was bone we radiated the area and I started on IV Herceptin and Aredia. Also, changed tamoxifen to aromasin. Treatment will depend on location of metastases. Hope this helps. hummingbyrd
  • DeeNY711
    DeeNY711 Member Posts: 476 Member
    #3
    Liz, my liver function tests were a roller coaster ride throughout chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is the introduction of toxic chemicals into the body. It kills off large volumes of cells, and the liver has to detoxify the debris. The liver can become overwhelmed, but the values start to return to normal toward the end of each chemotherapy cycle. Hope this helps. Love, Denise
  • DeeNY711
    DeeNY711 Member Posts: 476 Member
    #4
    DeeNY711 said:

    Liz, my liver function tests were a roller coaster ride throughout chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is the introduction of toxic chemicals into the body. It kills off large volumes of cells, and the liver has to detoxify the debris. The liver can become overwhelmed, but the values start to return to normal toward the end of each chemotherapy cycle. Hope this helps. Love, Denise

    Plus if I understand correctly, you had the chemo prior to surgery. Since the tumor is still there, tumor markers would still be present.
  • jake10
    jake10 Member Posts: 202
    #5
    It makes sense to me that the tumor markers would be present when the tumor is still there. Increasing markers may be evidence that the pre-op chemo may not have worked. This does not mean your post-op prognosis will be bad. I also agree with the comments about liver function studies during chemo. They monitor them for toxicity, but changes in the function are expected up to a point. No real knowledge to these thoughts just observation. Beth

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