HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - PET scan results good, Brain MRI

DianaT · 05-04-2011, 07:29 AM

I hope someone can offer advice. I was originally diagnosed with IIIC breast cancer, only Her2+, ER-/PR- in Jan 08. Then diagnosed with a solitary 8mm brain met in Feb 09. Everything had been clear since then and I was on herceptin/tykerb/avastin. Thanks to the FDA I was not able to have the avastin after Dec 10. My brain MRI on Monday said initially that I had another solitary met. My med onc and rad onc disagree because it is in the EXACT same spot as my original met and is smaller then that. My rad onc said it is not even shaped like a met normally is and really does believe it is radiation necrosis. The rad onc had me do another scan this time to check for blood flow to the site but warned me that those tests are not always accurate either. She is presenting my situation to a tumor board this morning to get the opinion of other experts as well. I am waiting on pins and needles.

I have read that avastin helps shrink radiation necrosis in the brain so I am thinking that maybe that is why I didn't have any RN before because I was on the avastin. I am going slightly insane because I truly felt great. I have also read about boswellia extract for swelling of the brain but I don't think I have any of that. Any advice/similar scenarios out there?

05-04-2011, 07:29 AM	#1
DianaT Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 23	PET scan results good, Brain MRI - ??? Radiation Necrosis??? I hope someone can offer advice. I was originally diagnosed with IIIC breast cancer, only Her2+, ER-/PR- in Jan 08. Then diagnosed with a solitary 8mm brain met in Feb 09. Everything had been clear since then and I was on herceptin/tykerb/avastin. Thanks to the FDA I was not able to have the avastin after Dec 10. My brain MRI on Monday said initially that I had another solitary met. My med onc and rad onc disagree because it is in the EXACT same spot as my original met and is smaller then that. My rad onc said it is not even shaped like a met normally is and really does believe it is radiation necrosis. The rad onc had me do another scan this time to check for blood flow to the site but warned me that those tests are not always accurate either. She is presenting my situation to a tumor board this morning to get the opinion of other experts as well. I am waiting on pins and needles. I have read that avastin helps shrink radiation necrosis in the brain so I am thinking that maybe that is why I didn't have any RN before because I was on the avastin. I am going slightly insane because I truly felt great. I have also read about boswellia extract for swelling of the brain but I don't think I have any of that. Any advice/similar scenarios out there?