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StephN · 07-23-2012, 10:18 PM

Dear Denise -

Very soon you will know the exact particulars of your two brain lesions. Look at my case. I had two lesions - one was even 3 cm!

You have a very good chance of beating this. Also, please remember that Herceptin - as great as it is - is too large a molecule to pass through your blood brain barrier.

I found my brain mets treatment to be the easiest of all, since it was not something systemic that affected so many of my cells like chemo. You may have Novalis, an improved machine over Gamma Knife. However Gamma Knife or Cyberknife can still be completely effective as it has been for me and so many others against our brain mets.

You might like to know that I had a brain MRI just 10 days ago and it was neg for anything new. That gives me almost 7 years since I had active brain mets.

I wish the same great result for you as well. Be brave in spite of this punch in your gut. You will do well.

07-23-2012, 10:18 PM	#2
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: Brain Mets &%$#$!! :( Dear Denise - Very soon you will know the exact particulars of your two brain lesions. Look at my case. I had two lesions - one was even 3 cm! You have a very good chance of beating this. Also, please remember that Herceptin - as great as it is - is too large a molecule to pass through your blood brain barrier. I found my brain mets treatment to be the easiest of all, since it was not something systemic that affected so many of my cells like chemo. You may have Novalis, an improved machine over Gamma Knife. However Gamma Knife or Cyberknife can still be completely effective as it has been for me and so many others against our brain mets. You might like to know that I had a brain MRI just 10 days ago and it was neg for anything new. That gives me almost 7 years since I had active brain mets. I wish the same great result for you as well. Be brave in spite of this punch in your gut. You will do well. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.