Lisa
07-19-2004, 02:54 PM
Here are my thoughts. Lauren is right, of course. Tests can be clear one week and show mets the next. Maybe of us have had that experience. Most of us were diagnosed with mets months or years after Stage I or II treatments because WE HAD SYMPTOMS THAT OUR DOCS THEN ORDERED TESTS FOR. That's early stages.
Now for Stage IV...
The exception: many of us have encouraged and/or received regular brain MRIs AFTER we've become Stage IV. Symptoms or not. The reason? One-third of all Stage IV bc patients WILL END UP WITH BRAIN METS. This is the one area where prudent testing is necessary, since symptoms just are not frequently obvious until there are many tumors present. Ask and unfortunately you will find several of us who have discovered brain mets in the past several months because we pushed for brain MRIs (even without symptoms.) If your insurance company balks, surely you've had a headache or two recently (hey, those COULD be symptoms, right?????).
I hope this clears up some of the confusion.
Love and light,
Lisa
Now for Stage IV...
The exception: many of us have encouraged and/or received regular brain MRIs AFTER we've become Stage IV. Symptoms or not. The reason? One-third of all Stage IV bc patients WILL END UP WITH BRAIN METS. This is the one area where prudent testing is necessary, since symptoms just are not frequently obvious until there are many tumors present. Ask and unfortunately you will find several of us who have discovered brain mets in the past several months because we pushed for brain MRIs (even without symptoms.) If your insurance company balks, surely you've had a headache or two recently (hey, those COULD be symptoms, right?????).
I hope this clears up some of the confusion.
Love and light,
Lisa