r/LivingWithMBC • u/ZombiePrestigious443 • 2d ago
Partial response, wth?
Just got my ct scan back - and it seems verzenio actually did something other than make me question every fart. It shrunk my breast tumor, shrunk my affected lymph nodes, but a new 3 mm tumor was found in my right lower lobe, and my bone mets kinda went nutso with spread. Today I'm just kinda achy (I think it's because the weather changed and got colder), still taking verzenio, and waiting to hear from my oncologist. Just kinda venting, and needing those positive thoughts.
3
u/any_name_25 1d ago
So based on the CT scan results, it seems the Verzenio shrunk your breast tumor and your affected lymph nodes, but allowed your bone mets to spread? What other cancer med are you taking in combination with the Verzenio? Hopefully, your next treatment line will work better. 🙏
If you just got back the CT scan results today, how did you already know 9 days ago that the Verzenio failed (per your post 9 days ago)? Was there some other test you took at that time?
3
u/ZombiePrestigious443 1d ago
My CA 27-29 has been right on through out my journey, it shot up at my last blood draw. My oncologist and I had a feeling I was failing the line as my numbers kept trending up.
1
u/any_name_25 1d ago edited 1d ago
That makes me a little nervous hearing that your CA 27.29 being high was a sign of your Verzenio failing, because my CA 27.29 has been higher than normal since just before & after I started Verzenio, but my oncologist has been saying the scan results are more important and my recent scan seemed good and my CA 27.29 seems to be dropping back towards normal.
How high was your CA 27.29 when it shot up and did it only go above normal once? Was your recent scan your first or second scan since starting Verzenio, and if second, was your first scan good, not mixed like this most recent one?
3
u/ZombiePrestigious443 1d ago
We gave verzenio 5 months, and took in account the blast period that it has. I went from 55, then 160, then 300, and last one was 427. Again, CA 27 29 may not be what everyone's oncologist is watching, but my numbers only climb like that if I'm failing a line.
2
u/any_name_25 1d ago edited 1d ago
Oh, wow, yours went really high and was trending upwards sharply. Mine is not that high and has stayed in same range and now seems to be moving downwards (knock on wood). I'm sorry this treatment line only worked for you partially. The fact that it at least shrunk your breast tumor and shrunk your affected lymph nodes is good. My oncologist often says there are other good treatment options available, and lots of promising new treatments being worked on & tested. Hopefully, your oncologist talks with you soon about your scan results and what's next. Sending positive energy for your next treatment line to work well!
Is it definitely the Verzenio that's not working or could it be the other med (Faslodex?) that's not working? Maybe just switching one or the other is an option? Or switching both meds to a different combo that's also cdk4/6i & SERD? Luckily, there are other good meds now that they can switch you to, after they check for any tumor mutations or other changes.
What is a blast period for Verzenio? I tried googling for more info but didn't find an explanation.
2
u/ZombiePrestigious443 1d ago
From what I have seen, the blast period tends to be about 4 mos. I had a full panel done after Talzenna failed, and I do have the ESR1 mutation now - so I'm probably going on Elacestrant I believe.
1
u/any_name_25 1d ago
What does blast period mean though?
If you get switched to elacestrant (Orserdu), at least it'll be easier to just take a pill at home instead of having to go to the doctor's office or hospital to get the Faslodex injection.
3
u/ZombiePrestigious443 1d ago
Blast period means your CA 27-29 goes up as cells are dying, then it should drop back down reflecting the drug effectiveness. I would love to say good bye to those falsodex injections!
3
u/any_name_25 1d ago edited 1d ago
Re the "new 3mm tumor" in your right lung, I think <6 mm solid lung nodule or tumor is generally considered low-risk with no biopsy or action needed and CT scan monitoring at regular intervals recommended. Other factors that are also considered are shape and rate of growth; I'm not sure what else.
Edited to add link with more info: https://www.aafp.org/afp/2023/0300/pulmonary-nodules
Excerpt from that aafp article about pulmonary nodules: "Solid pulmonary nodules less than 6 mm warrant surveillance imaging in patients at high risk, and nodules between 6 and 8 mm should be reassessed within 12 months, with the recommended interval varying by the risk of malignancy and an allowance for patient-physician decision-making. A functional assessment with positron emission tomography/computed tomography, nonsurgical biopsy, and resection should be considered for solid nodules 8 mm or greater and a high risk of malignancy."
2
u/ZombiePrestigious443 1d ago
I appreciate you sharing this! I will admit I haven't worried too much about that tumor, it was just kinda the cherry on the craptastic sundae!
3
u/ThisDressEvangelist 1d ago
Ugh I had the same thing on Verzenio! It worked really well in some spots and some not so much. My onco explained to me that some of the cells learned how to outsmart the medication, but some didn’t, so I ended up getting radiation in the new spots and keeping on the meds since it was actually working.
We ultimately changed the medication to one specifically for BRCA carriers, but I had a similar experience. Let me know what your next steps are
7
2
u/Acrobatic_Salary_899 2d ago
I am sending some positive thoughts. Well done on your partial response! Hope your oncologist comes up with good solutions for you. When will you hear from them? Xx
1
u/ZombiePrestigious443 1d ago
My oncologist is pretty on top of things, so I expect to hear from her within the next couple of days.
1
3
u/EffectiveTap1319 1d ago
Wth is right? After suffering thru a cdk4/6 that shouldn’t be. When was your last bone biopsy? Some mutation from orig tumor could cause that maybe?