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03-01-2007, 01:15 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 84
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Brain mets?
Are there any symptoms associated w/brain mets? I have an MRI tomorrow due to these horrible headaches, but my bp is high, too. I don't know whether to think stress, high bp, mets...or I'm just falling apart!
__________________
3/2003-Dx'd Stage 4 Her 2+++
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
Dum spiro spero (Latin: while I breathe I hope)
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03-01-2007, 04:32 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: New York
Posts: 90
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Brain Mets
Truthfully only a brain MRI can tell you if it is brain mets. I have had brain mets 3 times. Twice I had symptoms and once I had none. My symptoms included throwing up and I immediately knew. I had headaches only once (where very different from a normal headache it was severe) also my balance was off.
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03-01-2007, 05:05 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Dede
I had a brain MRI yesterday as I was having headaches and neck stiffness....I also had a bone scan. Got the results today and all that showed was arthritis in the neck...the MRI was fine. I think its my B/P which is up a bit.
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
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03-01-2007, 08:43 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
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dede10
Good luck to you tomorrow - I hope and pray everything will be okay - have you ever had migraines? Or bad sinuses - I have terrible sinuses and have lived on Tylenol 3 's ( 2 at a time) for sinus infections.
let us know - we are with you.
Caya in Canada
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03-01-2007, 09:47 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,207
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Hi Dede,
Here is an excerpt from one of the papers in the Brain Mets section on this website (Go "home"/Index/...) The main thing my docs tell me is, be vigilant and have a "low threshold" for symptoms before getting an MRI, which is the only way to rule out the mets.
I'd also note, tho, most of these symptoms could be caused by other things! So getting it checked out (and most likely "ruled out") is the thing to do!
Is March MRI month or something? I ALSO got one today! I didn't have a headache when I went in, but after all that banging and jackhammer noise, I was dizzy coming out!
Good luck tommorrow!
Chris
What Are the Typical Symptoms of Brain Metastases?
As tumor cells multiply within the brain, they can press against, irritate, and/or destroy normal brain tissue. As a result, brain metastases can be associated with symptoms such as headaches, seizures, speech problems, weakness, bad vision, pain or numbness, problems moving, paralysis, nausea, or vomiting. Brain meta-stases may cause a feeling of tiredness or fatigue. In addition, brain metastases can cause problems with memory, reading, and talking.
However, not everyone gets every symptom. In fact, about one third of people with brain metastases have no symptoms at all.
__________________
Chris in Scotts Valley
June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?"
9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++
10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response!
04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED
04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial
06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin
01/08 Progression in liver
02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial
08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1
02/09 Continue NED
02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED
12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver
07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:(
12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:(
03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial
5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!!
8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!)
9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3
11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc
11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go.
2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go.
3/13 TACE procedure
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03-02-2007, 12:55 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 84
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Well, MRI done! Now I have to wait til Monday. I think the waiting game is the hardest.
I have also decided that that silly machine gets louder evertime I go in there. If I didn't have a headach when I went in, I surely do now!
__________________
3/2003-Dx'd Stage 4 Her 2+++
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
Dum spiro spero (Latin: while I breathe I hope)
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03-02-2007, 02:05 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ft. Collins, Colorado
Posts: 546
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you said it
That machine makes the craziest noises. Last time i almost laughed cause it is just seems so ridiculous. Anyway, Dede I am picturing nothing in your head all weekend
Let us know and keep busy!
__________________
with love and gratitude,
joy
dx stage I 2/2000*er/pr+; her- per IHC*lumpectomy*4 rounds A/C*30 rads*tamoxifen*dx stage 4 5/2002*huge mets to liver*tiny mets to lungs*stopped tamoxifen*5/02 taxotere/xeloda*her 2 checked with FiSH-her2+++herceptin *2/03 stopped chemo femara w/herceptin*zolodex*04 switched to aromasin w/herceptin*05 high estrogen tx*11/05taxol/carbo*7/06 stopped chemo; megace/herceptin*9/06navelbine/herceptin*5/07tykerb/xeloda great response*4/08 progression in liver; ooph/ faslodex /herceptin
6/08 began Herceptin DM-1
9/08 progression
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03-02-2007, 02:18 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
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Glad you are back Dede. Hoping for good news for you on Monday.
Best
Caya
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03-02-2007, 04:39 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 84
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LOL! Nothing in my head is right!
__________________
3/2003-Dx'd Stage 4 Her 2+++
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
Dum spiro spero (Latin: while I breathe I hope)
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03-02-2007, 09:24 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: New York
Posts: 90
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MRI's on Fridays
I hope you are okay. I will say a special prayer tonight that everything turns out okay for you. I have a rule- No MRI's on Fridays because if you are anything like me you are out of your mind for the entire weekend. I now go to a place where I get instant results. I have to travel an hour but it is well worth me avoiding a melt down. Most people have no idea what levels of anxiety cancer pts. experience.
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03-03-2007, 09:18 AM
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#11
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Founder - HER2 Support Group
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 361
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Hope all goes well.
Hugs
Christine
__________________
1990, July DX 1.1cm er-, pr-
Lumpectomy, 5U4, radiation
1999, June mets to chest and brain
HER2 3+++, er- pr-
AC, Taxol, Herceptin, Gamma Knife (3 treatments) WBR
NED July 2001
December 2001 - Founded HER2 Support Group
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