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

CourtneyL · 07-28-2009, 05:08 PM

Adding prayers for your friend too.

Please let your friend know that brain mets are not an automatic death sentence. There are so many things that can be done to fight them. I had all 10 of mine Gamma Knifed in April and am doing well today.

Please make sure your friend gets in to see a radiation oncologist who can advise her as to whether WBR or stereotactic radiation are options. There are also quite a number of drugs that cross into the Blood Brain Barrier that can work to shrink tumors and prevent new ones from forming. I take Tykerb/Xeloda for this purpose in addition to Herceptin.

Sending hugs and prayers your way and to your friend. She is lucky to have a friend like you!

07-28-2009, 05:08 PM	#10
CourtneyL Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: San Francisco Posts: 260	Adding prayers for your friend too. Please let your friend know that brain mets are not an automatic death sentence. There are so many things that can be done to fight them. I had all 10 of mine Gamma Knifed in April and am doing well today. Please make sure your friend gets in to see a radiation oncologist who can advise her as to whether WBR or stereotactic radiation are options. There are also quite a number of drugs that cross into the Blood Brain Barrier that can work to shrink tumors and prevent new ones from forming. I take Tykerb/Xeloda for this purpose in addition to Herceptin. Sending hugs and prayers your way and to your friend. She is lucky to have a friend like you! __________________ 4/17/08: Dx Stage IV at age 30 - extensive mets to liver, lungs, and bones. Er/Pr-, Her2+++ April 08-Aug 08:Taxotere, Cytoxan, Herceptin, Zometa - complete response! Sept 08-Dec 08: Herceptin +Zometa for maintenance. Jan 09-April 09: Brain mets. Add Tykerb. Watch and wait. April 09: Gamma Knife 10 brain mets, add Xeloda. Sept 09: Gamma Knife to 1 brain met. Nov 09- April 10: Lung progression, add Gemzar to Herceptin, Zometa. May 10- Sept 10: HER2 Vaccine Trial Sept 10: Add Tykerb for more brain mets. Oct 10: Gamma Knife to 7 brain mets. Dec 10: Switch from Zometa to Denosumab. Jan 11: Gamma Knife to 3 brain mets. March 11: Gemzar/Herceptin for lung/bone progression. April 11: More brain mets - Intrathecal Herceptin June 11: Ixempra/Herceptin for lung, soft tissue progression. Aug 11: Gamma Knife Sep 11: Abraxane/Herceptin Future: NED Send me a PM if you'd like to follow my journey on Caringbridge.