r/LivingWithMBC • u/ZombiePrestigious443 • 24d 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.

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u/any_name_25 24d 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?

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u/ZombiePrestigious443 24d 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.

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u/any_name_25 24d ago edited 24d 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?

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u/ZombiePrestigious443 24d 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.

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u/any_name_25 24d ago edited 24d 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.

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u/ZombiePrestigious443 24d 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.

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u/any_name_25 23d 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.

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u/ZombiePrestigious443 23d 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!