Sir Spheres Did Not Work

in August and September of 2012 I underwent 2 Sir Spheres procedures. My first post CAT scan showed stable tumors, last week my PET shows four new growths and some increases in existings tumors, some decreases. I am so unhappy, I thought this would be the way to get to liver resection. I'll now go to Folfori + Avastin. 

Anyone else had a failed response to Sir Spheres?

Well my husband had sir spheres, just one treatment.   He did go 6 months before new tumors appeared but he got lots of liver abscesses as a consequence of those sir spheres.   The tumors were small so we did not go back on chemotherapy, but in his case, he had already had his right lobe removed and on the three month scan after his liver was removed, two new tumors appeared, and that is when he tired the sir spheres.   So when they came back after the sir spheres they were small and so he stayed off chemo to do antibiotics etc. for the abscesses, for a year -- then the tumors started to grow again and he tried a couple Erbitux treaments but they did not work, he passed away this past October 6.  He battled every way he could for 3 years. 

On Dec 17, 2012 8:35 PM dmoore062 wrote:

in August and September of 2012 I underwent 2 Sir Spheres procedures. My first post CAT scan showed stable tumors, last week my PET shows four new growths and some increases in existings tumors, some decreases. I am so unhappy, I thought this would be the way to get to liver resection. I'll now go to Folfori + Avastin. 

Anyone else had a failed response to Sir Spheres?

I'm so sorry to hear about the new growth of tumors.  I know that it is frustrating, and frightening, when the cancer doesn't respond the way that we hope or expect. I'm just thankful that more and more options are available to us so that we can buy time and have a stepping stone to the next treatment until there is a cure.

Tumor inflammation can occur for up to three months post treatment and, during this time, it is still possible for the tumors to appear larger on scan.  It is important for your IR to review the scans.  Unfortunately, the treatment can't and isn't expected to prevent new tumor growth so having a care plan in place is crucial! 

I'm fortunate that SIR-Spheres worked well for me and gave me a reduction in liver tumors - which allowed me to go to the next treatment. I had (and still have) lung mets and it has at times been a lot like Whac-A-Mole in keeping tumors under control. I feel for you and am glad that you have the next treatment step in place.  I hope you get great results with the FOLFIRI + Avastin and will be sending good thoughts your way!

Suzanne

Suzanne is right.  We do all the new treatments available to live so that when the cure/new ones come out, we are around to take advantage of that. 

My prayers are with both of you.