HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - 8 years since brain mets ... and counting

StephN · 03-18-2013, 05:44 PM

Hello everyone -

I just spent a good share of today at my medical center having a brain MRI and then seeing my doctor for the result. (Not to mention some waiting around as they were super busy and running late today!)

So, good news once again. No new spots or problems with the old places. I did have a year or two with some complications after my initial gamma knife (see signature), but it all levelled out and has been a dull routine since the end of 2006.

At this juncture they see me every 8 months, but I lobbied to get it pushed to 10 months before the next screening. (Hope the tumor board will agree.) Since I have quarterly blood draws and am otherwise followed, I think that is a reasonable interim.

So, for those of you going through or close to treatment for brain mets, it should get better with a little more time. That is my wish for each and every one of you.

03-18-2013, 05:44 PM	#1
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	8 years since brain mets ... and counting Hello everyone - I just spent a good share of today at my medical center having a brain MRI and then seeing my doctor for the result. (Not to mention some waiting around as they were super busy and running late today!) So, good news once again. No new spots or problems with the old places. I did have a year or two with some complications after my initial gamma knife (see signature), but it all levelled out and has been a dull routine since the end of 2006. At this juncture they see me every 8 months, but I lobbied to get it pushed to 10 months before the next screening. (Hope the tumor board will agree.) Since I have quarterly blood draws and am otherwise followed, I think that is a reasonable interim. So, for those of you going through or close to treatment for brain mets, it should get better with a little more time. That is my wish for each and every one of you. __________________ "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. Last edited by StephN; 03-18-2013 at 09:34 PM..