HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - I don't know what to say other than HELP !!!

Joan M · 02-06-2011, 05:56 PM

Jacqui,

I'm sorry to hear about your brain met and the medical challenges your brother and father are also facing.

I too had a brain met which was 2.6 cm and surgically removed. About 6 weeks after the surgery I was treated with targeted radiation, which involved only the area of the tumor. Other women on this message board have been treated without surgery and only targeted radiation or Gamma Knife. My tumor was removed in October 2008 and everything has been okay since then. I just had a routine brain MRI on Friday and all still looked good.

Here's a recent post on this message board about dealing with brain mets:

http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=48248

Joan

02-06-2011, 05:56 PM	#15
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Re: I don't know what to say other than HELP !!! Jacqui, I'm sorry to hear about your brain met and the medical challenges your brother and father are also facing. I too had a brain met which was 2.6 cm and surgically removed. About 6 weeks after the surgery I was treated with targeted radiation, which involved only the area of the tumor. Other women on this message board have been treated without surgery and only targeted radiation or Gamma Knife. My tumor was removed in October 2008 and everything has been okay since then. I just had a routine brain MRI on Friday and all still looked good. Here's a recent post on this message board about dealing with brain mets: http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=48248 Joan __________________ Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2021 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!!