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Joan M · 02-04-2012, 06:34 AM

Marie, PS

It's not common practice here either. Since advanced disease is systemic most oncologists shun local treatments. But I'm still being treated systemically. With Herceptin every 3 weeks, but not with chemotherapy.

If you want to learn more about local treatments, here's a link to a video of Dr Hirose's presentation at the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network's conference in October at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. I attended the conference and thought his presentation was excellent. But also keep in mind that Hirose is a surgeon and may feel that interventional radiologists (the docs who do RFAs) are stepping on surgeons' turf. Therefore he remarked that RFA is used for patients who cannot withstand surgery. However, that may not be true in all cases. IR docs feel that their procedure is less invasive than surgery and does as good a job under certain criteria.

http://mbcn.org/special-events/categ...sentations/P6/

Good luck with your treatments!!!

Joan

02-04-2012, 06:34 AM	#7
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Re: Radiating tumors Marie, PS It's not common practice here either. Since advanced disease is systemic most oncologists shun local treatments. But I'm still being treated systemically. With Herceptin every 3 weeks, but not with chemotherapy. If you want to learn more about local treatments, here's a link to a video of Dr Hirose's presentation at the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network's conference in October at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. I attended the conference and thought his presentation was excellent. But also keep in mind that Hirose is a surgeon and may feel that interventional radiologists (the docs who do RFAs) are stepping on surgeons' turf. Therefore he remarked that RFA is used for patients who cannot withstand surgery. However, that may not be true in all cases. IR docs feel that their procedure is less invasive than surgery and does as good a job under certain criteria. http://mbcn.org/special-events/categ...sentations/P6/ Good luck with your treatments!!! 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 2023 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!! Last edited by Joan M; 02-04-2012 at 06:43 AM..