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Since my sister's diagnosis of brain mets 16 months after being diagnosed with Stage II Her2+ breast cancer (almost 6 years ago), she has had an MRI done every 6-8 weeks, and it has been key in staying ahead of the mets with various treatments... Her initial symptom was a recurring headache -- her oncologist took this very seriously and ordered an MRI immediately. She has only had PET scans pre-surgery and very occasionally to confirm/give an alternate view of what was seen on the MRI. MRIs cost less than PET scans, and an MRI does not involve exposure to radiation, as a PET scan does.
Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina is very progressive in their cancer treatments (that is where Ted Kennedy went to have his brain tumor surgery and treatment, even though we have several excellent cancer treatment hospitals in Boston). In Atlanta, Georgia, Emory University Hospital would be another nearby option. Keep pursuing this until you find a doctor who will order an MRI for you, and hopefully it will show that you are fine, and give you peace of mind.
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Emmay - My sister's history:
6/03 Her2+,ER-PR-Breast Cancer, IIb, 7/03 lumpec. rt.brst
9/03 Begin chemo-AC+T
2/04 Mastectomy for local recurrence
3/04 Begin Herceptin, 5/04 Rad to mastec.site
9/04 Recurring Headaches=brain mets
10/04 Craniotomy #1 - rem. 3 br. mets, 11/04 WBR
2/05 Begin Lapatinib(Tykerb) Clinical Trial
5/05 Craniotomy #2 - remove largest brain mets
7/05 Stereotactic Radiation to 2-3 brain mets
10/05 - 3/07 CyberKnife Radiation Treatments for sm brain mets as they arose. Cont. Herceptin
5/07 Begin Temodar+Sorafenib for brain mets
2/08 Begin Tykerb(Lapatinib)+Xeloda for br. mets
5/08 MRI&Biopsy shows ext.new disease, some necrosis
5/08 Begin CPT-11(Irinotecan)+Avastin for br.mets
6/08-4/09 MRIs look great! cont. Herceptin
3/09 Stop CPT-11, brain CTclear-some nausea,backpain
4/09 Scans=pleura,liver,bone mets.
New Rx Herceptin+Avastin+Xeloda
6/09 new Rx Carboplatin+Herceptin
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