8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Hello everyone -

I just spent a good share of today at my medical center having a brain MRI and then seeing my doctor for the result. (Not to mention some waiting around as they were super busy and running late today!)

So, good news once again. No new spots or problems with the old places. I did have a year or two with some complications after my initial gamma knife (see signature), but it all levelled out and has been a dull routine since the end of 2006.

At this juncture they see me every 8 months, but I lobbied to get it pushed to 10 months before the next screening. (Hope the tumor board will agree.) Since I have quarterly blood draws and am otherwise followed, I think that is a reasonable interim.

So, for those of you going through or close to treatment for brain mets, it should get better with a little more time. That is my wish for each and every one of you.

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

StephN, Congratulations and thank you for posting. I needed to hear it just now (I was having a down moment), and I logged on and saw this. I'm so happy for you. I am so happy that you give us metsters so much hope.
Here's to many more years of NED!
Jill

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Hello,

How wonderful!!! I always appreciate your posts, Steph; always so filled with wisdom and hope for all of us. And how great for you to have scans every 10 months. Enjoy!

Take care,

Jackie

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Wow steph, wonderful news!! Thanks for the up date

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

You GO Steph!!!

Thanks for being one of our major heroes!

Cheers!

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

You are what we all dream about. Congratulations!

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Steph,
Thanks for sharing your uplifting update. Eleven years away from liver mets and disease free. Champion!
Congratulations,
Karen

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Congrats, Steph. And thanks for letting us share in your good news.

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Yay hoorah swinging from the chandelier - am very happy for you and all those around you especially us!
Jenny x

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Congratulations! I look forward to your posts and also agree that you give us so much hope. Thank you so much!

Caroline

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Congratulations, Steph! I was thinking of you today and thought about checking in to see how you have been, now I know, fantastic!

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

That's so wonderful! Congratulations Steph!!

Rachael

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Thanks Steph - we do need news like yours!

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Congratulations! I will raise a glass of French wine for you Steph!
Michka

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Steph, fan-bloody-tastic! Great news.
Cheers Marie x

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Congratulations Steph. Lovely to hear such good news.
Ellie

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Congratulations Steph. Lovely to hear such good news.
Ellie

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

YAY!
You, my friend are a mentor, a trail-blazer, an inspiration!!
When I grow up...I want to be just like you! :)

Denise

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Great news Steph, thanks for sharing.
Big congrats, you go girl!!

all the best
caya

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Great news StephN! I too just had check-ups and got the all clear. So that makes me 8 yrs out from liver mets!

I was wondering how often they did scans on you now. I finally talked MDAnderson into every 6 mos. I've been on that schedule for about 1.5 years. Maybe after the next check-up I'll ask for 8 mos.

Thanks for sharing your great news!

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Thank you all.

Nsebesta - did you have brain mets or only liver mets? You do not have a signature posted.

My brain MRI has been every 8 months for a couple of years. I get a CT of chest, abdoman and pelvis once a year now. These are two separate doctors - one follows my head and the other follows by body from ears down.

I also have frequent blood draws and 3 different tumor markers checked, so I have a lot of coverage to tip off to any disease getting active again.

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Steph,

You are my inspiration!! Congratulations!!!

Joan
xo

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Steph - I only had liver mets - 2 of them in 2004. Had surgery in Feb 2005 to remove them. NED since then. I've been through 4 oncologist at MDAnderson. So for about 6 yrs I had CT scans, chest x-rays, mamograms, etc. every three months. I just finally put my foot down b/c I thought that was to much radiation. If I would have had active disease I could understand so many scans and test. One doctor was about to stretch it to 6 mos and then left. She apparently didn't put it in my file and the next 'new' doctor didn't want to do that right away.
I too have blood work done at the same time. I've discussed with my doctor going off herceptin - I'm just not brave enough yet. What made you decide to stop?

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Congratulations !! Keep up the great work. Whatever you are doing is working.

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

AMEN!! I have to say I got "Glory Bumps" reading this!!
I am so happy for you StephN!! :)
I have followed a bit of your posts...ALL of your are bringing me SO much wisdom, knowledge & encouragement!!!

Tomorrow, I FINALLY get my port placed...then next week celebrate the big "50" bday and will most probably begin my journey of TCH chemo next week as well.
I AM GOING TO TRUST GOD IN ALL OF THIS AND PUT HIM IN THE "DRIVER'S SEAT!!"

I have to say, I THANK GOD for every new day and breath I take as does each one of us!!!

Blessings to ALL of you!!

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

8 years is fantastic. Nina will be coming up on May 30 with one year of NED. You are definitely an inspiration to all those who have had Brain involvement.

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

All I can say is Wow....fabulous!!!
Thank you for sharing!!!

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Thanks StephN, you are an inspiration to all of us. I know dear Courtney really looked up to you and learned alot from you. Thanks for sharing your journey.

Kristin

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Hooray>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

That is so great news!! Congratulations!
I love reading your posts since our initial diagnos is so alike.

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

StephN this is amazing! Very happy for you XX

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Steph,
Such Happy News! You are always positive and always displaying hope to all. Continued blessings being sent to you.

Jean :)

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

This is wonderful...thanks for sharing!
Leah

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

That is great! Thanks for sharing the wonderful news!

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Great news for those of us who are suffering with brain mets/family members with brain mets! Congrats. You keep the hope alive for us!

Re: 8 years since brain mets ... and counting
 

Great news, time flies and I cannot believe it has been
that long. What good news.
patb