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Joan M · 01-09-2011, 08:36 PM

Karla,

Brenda who has a lot of experience with brain mets pretty much said it all. But I'd like to add that my single 2.6 cm tumor was treated with surgery and then Varian IMRT. I had five dosages to the tumor bed about six weeks after surgery.

My tumor was considered medium-sized, and the doctors said I would get better control with surgery followed by radiation. I was very disappointed because I was hoping for just one radiation shot to the tumor.

I had the surgery in October 2008 which was followed by radiation in December and all has been well since. However, because you have more than one tumor, and since I never had radiation-only treatment, I'm not sure what the size limitation is for such single-shot radiation to a tumor.

Also, except after my brain surgery, I was not given a steroid during radiation. The radiation oncologist suggested that I try radiation without a steroid, and it worked okay.

You should probably be in a larger facility if you use IMRT, as this radiation equipment is much more complicated than Gamma Knife, and requires constant monitoring of the treatment program by doctors who do it a lot.

Good luck.

Joan

01-09-2011, 08:36 PM	#15
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Re: Help! Brain mets besides lung mets Karla, Brenda who has a lot of experience with brain mets pretty much said it all. But I'd like to add that my single 2.6 cm tumor was treated with surgery and then Varian IMRT. I had five dosages to the tumor bed about six weeks after surgery. My tumor was considered medium-sized, and the doctors said I would get better control with surgery followed by radiation. I was very disappointed because I was hoping for just one radiation shot to the tumor. I had the surgery in October 2008 which was followed by radiation in December and all has been well since. However, because you have more than one tumor, and since I never had radiation-only treatment, I'm not sure what the size limitation is for such single-shot radiation to a tumor. Also, except after my brain surgery, I was not given a steroid during radiation. The radiation oncologist suggested that I try radiation without a steroid, and it worked okay. You should probably be in a larger facility if you use IMRT, as this radiation equipment is much more complicated than Gamma Knife, and requires constant monitoring of the treatment program by doctors who do it a lot. Good luck. 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!! Last edited by Joan M; 01-09-2011 at 08:39 PM..