Question about brain mets?

[Carlye]

Hi everyone,
I have been educating myself on brain tumors as I await my brain mri next week for my dizzines. I was diaognosed 21/2 years ago and have been NED since my surgery. I had my tumor markers done this week and they all came back very normal. When BC progesses can it go directly to the brain or does it usually go throughout other parts of your body first? I know tumor markers are not that reliable so I am not weighing heavily on those. I had talked to a nurse yesterday and she made the comment that Brain mets are not the usual progression for BC, but I also know with her2 pos cancer it seems to be very common. Any insight would be great? Thankyou again!!

[pattyz]

You're right. Brain mets is not usually a single presentation of mets. My other mets at the time were mediastinal node/s, spot on lung, spot on pelvis.

But, it can happen.

My tumor marker CA27-29 has remained in the low normal range as long as my body has been NED, even with multiple brain mets.

hugs,
pattyz

[Carlye]

Patty,
What were your symtoms when you were dxed with the brain mets?

[pattyz]

Just some extra dizziness and a few episodes of visual light show in peripheral vision. Could have nearly missed it. Great onc.

pattyz

[Sue C]

My first met appeared in the brain. single lesion. Then it went to my liver. My doc said that markers are not reliable for brain mets because of the blood brain barrier. It doesn't let most chemos go in and it doesn't let other information out either.

Hope you have good scan results.