HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Possible brain mets? Need help for a friend.

Joan M · 07-26-2009, 04:32 PM

Gerri.

You've been really supportive of your friend in helping her to be more assertive.

My brain tumor was close to 3 cms and therefore too large for good control via stereotatic radiosurgery (SRS) alone, which is one dose of radiation to the tumor. As a result I had surgery followed by stereotatic radiotherapy (SRT), which was five doses of radiation over the course of a week.

Although it can be difficult to tell whether a brain tumor is a bc met rather than a primary cancer, many bc brain mets are cystic, and your friend's report should say whether her tumor is cystic.

All primary brain tumors are solids and many brain mets are also solids. Bc brain mets however can be either solid or cystic. That is, they can be sacs of fluid rather than solid masses. Mine was.

This distinction in the report might help in determining whether the tumor is primary or a met.

I had my surgery last October and my SRT in December, and a recent brain MRI shows that all is doing well.

Joan

07-26-2009, 04:32 PM	#7
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Gerri. You've been really supportive of your friend in helping her to be more assertive. My brain tumor was close to 3 cms and therefore too large for good control via stereotatic radiosurgery (SRS) alone, which is one dose of radiation to the tumor. As a result I had surgery followed by stereotatic radiotherapy (SRT), which was five doses of radiation over the course of a week. Although it can be difficult to tell whether a brain tumor is a bc met rather than a primary cancer, many bc brain mets are cystic, and your friend's report should say whether her tumor is cystic. All primary brain tumors are solids and many brain mets are also solids. Bc brain mets however can be either solid or cystic. That is, they can be sacs of fluid rather than solid masses. Mine was. This distinction in the report might help in determining whether the tumor is primary or a met. I had my surgery last October and my SRT in December, and a recent brain MRI shows that all is doing well. 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!!