HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - HELP -- Possible Brain Mets

StephN · 07-31-2007, 05:07 PM

Dear Kate -

"Stop the world, I want to get off!" Or turn back the clock to yesterday.
I know you are knawing your nails to the nubs right about now! Been where you are and done that. With the exception that for purposes of looking for brain mets, I NEVER had a CT - only MRIs. And I am a bit shocked that you had a CT instead, especially now that you have confirmed lung mets. A big boo boo on someone's part.

If you had been going into a clinical trial for the lung mets, it would have called for an MRI for sure. Also, there is no radiation with the MRI as there is with CT scans.

Sure hope they get you in right away - like NEXT available, or have you come in as a "work in."

I had my umpteenth brain MRI today. Have lost count, but have at least 4 a year now. Before the mets and treatment, those butterflies left me hardly able to do anything till I got the all clear. I also have a spot is something called "ischemic disease." Probably from one of the many bumps on my head, and a couple of concussions.

Hang tough and we will get you through this one, too.

P.S. The brain MRI looks at the brain - not the sinuses. Your skeletal structure shows, but the detail is of the "soft tissue" brain area. I have had CT of just my sinuses earlier this year. A whole different positioning.

07-31-2007, 05:07 PM	#15
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	CT vs. MRI Dear Kate - "Stop the world, I want to get off!" Or turn back the clock to yesterday. I know you are knawing your nails to the nubs right about now! Been where you are and done that. With the exception that for purposes of looking for brain mets, I NEVER had a CT - only MRIs. And I am a bit shocked that you had a CT instead, especially now that you have confirmed lung mets. A big boo boo on someone's part. If you had been going into a clinical trial for the lung mets, it would have called for an MRI for sure. Also, there is no radiation with the MRI as there is with CT scans. Sure hope they get you in right away - like NEXT available, or have you come in as a "work in." I had my umpteenth brain MRI today. Have lost count, but have at least 4 a year now. Before the mets and treatment, those butterflies left me hardly able to do anything till I got the all clear. I also have a spot is something called "ischemic disease." Probably from one of the many bumps on my head, and a couple of concussions. Hang tough and we will get you through this one, too. P.S. The brain MRI looks at the brain - not the sinuses. Your skeletal structure shows, but the detail is of the "soft tissue" brain area. I have had CT of just my sinuses earlier this year. A whole different positioning. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.