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Joan M · 11-21-2008, 04:48 PM

Barb,

My heart goes out to you over this idea of being awake for part of the surgery and the difficulty they seem to be presenting in general.

I've read about this type of surgery before, where the surgeon needs the patient to speak to confirm how close he or she is to the speech area.

How big is the tumor? Is there any chance that it can be zapped instead, as you mentioned? Especially since it's so close to the speech center.

Is there any way that the surgeon's or your oncologist's office can assist you with making an appointment to see the rads onc? They would be able to get you in faster.

Hang in there!

I love you.

Joan

11-21-2008, 04:48 PM	#2
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Barb, My heart goes out to you over this idea of being awake for part of the surgery and the difficulty they seem to be presenting in general. I've read about this type of surgery before, where the surgeon needs the patient to speak to confirm how close he or she is to the speech area. How big is the tumor? Is there any chance that it can be zapped instead, as you mentioned? Especially since it's so close to the speech center. Is there any way that the surgeon's or your oncologist's office can assist you with making an appointment to see the rads onc? They would be able to get you in faster. Hang in there! I love you. 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!!