HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post

Joan M · 02-13-2011, 07:38 PM

Michka,

I'm sorry that you have to deal with all this information and coping with the cancer at the same time. I've been there, and it can be very stressful, especially if you're looking at treatments that many doctors do not consider standard of care for advanced, or metastatic, breast cancer.

Just wanted to mention that radiofrequency ablation uses radiowaves (not radiation or microwaves) to destroy a tumor by burning it and also perhaps causing an autoimmune response. As Lori mentioned, cryoablation freezes a tumor. Interventional radiologists use microwaves to attack tumors, but that's not RFA. It's another technology.

Why is the IR doc suggesting that you do a resection instead of RFA (or cryoablation)? I'm wondering about his reasoning. Sometimes there's difficulty with the position of the tumors, other times it may be because a tumor is too close to a blood vessel that in effect "cools off" the radiowaves, among other things.

Lani, thanks for the background info on CK.

Michka, I'm sending you a lot of hugs.

Joan

02-13-2011, 07:38 PM	#18
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Re: Cyberknife for liver mets? Michka, I'm sorry that you have to deal with all this information and coping with the cancer at the same time. I've been there, and it can be very stressful, especially if you're looking at treatments that many doctors do not consider standard of care for advanced, or metastatic, breast cancer. Just wanted to mention that radiofrequency ablation uses radiowaves (not radiation or microwaves) to destroy a tumor by burning it and also perhaps causing an autoimmune response. As Lori mentioned, cryoablation freezes a tumor. Interventional radiologists use microwaves to attack tumors, but that's not RFA. It's another technology. Why is the IR doc suggesting that you do a resection instead of RFA (or cryoablation)? I'm wondering about his reasoning. Sometimes there's difficulty with the position of the tumors, other times it may be because a tumor is too close to a blood vessel that in effect "cools off" the radiowaves, among other things. Lani, thanks for the background info on CK. Michka, I'm sending you a lot of hugs. 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!!