HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post

Joan M · 01-26-2011, 01:58 PM

Karla,

Sorry I missed your post about the cancellation, but it's good that the surgery was cancelled. Gamma Knife is less invasive and just one shot to do the job.

Steph's procedure worked out fine, and I'm sure that yours will too. My tumor was 2.6 cm, and surgery was considered better for tumors greater than 2.5 cm. Steph's tumor was close to that size at 3 cm, and perhaps since it was not deep, Gamma Knife was considered a very viable option. In my case, the tumor was deep, so the depth may have influenced the doctors' recommendation. Glad you nipped the WBR recommendation in the bud!

Let us know what happens.

Joan

01-26-2011, 01:58 PM	#56
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Re: Help! Brain mets besides lung mets Karla, Sorry I missed your post about the cancellation, but it's good that the surgery was cancelled. Gamma Knife is less invasive and just one shot to do the job. Steph's procedure worked out fine, and I'm sure that yours will too. My tumor was 2.6 cm, and surgery was considered better for tumors greater than 2.5 cm. Steph's tumor was close to that size at 3 cm, and perhaps since it was not deep, Gamma Knife was considered a very viable option. In my case, the tumor was deep, so the depth may have influenced the doctors' recommendation. Glad you nipped the WBR recommendation in the bud! Let us know what happens. 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!!