Brain Mets Need Help

[Elayel]

Hi everyone
Many thnks for your constant encouragement to ask for brain scans. I did. One met was found 1.7 cm I think. I don't have my reports in front of me - my husband is suing them to set up appointment for a second opion.

My oncologist is referring me to a neurosurgeon. He thinks its likely the surgeon will believe it can be resected. And then some type of radiation after that.

I need some help. What questions to ask? What types of treatment should I be looking into? From lurking on the board I remember some comments about WBR and Gamma, but not a lot. ''I am just stunned right now and really need to know that there is still hope.

Anything you can tell me would be much appreciated.

[imported_Joe]

I am sure that you will be getting a lot of good advice on thest boards.

While waiting, here is a good place to start:

Metastatic Brain Tumors (http://www.her2support.org/a/newher2_002.htm)

The location of your tumor will help determine your treatment. Tumors of that size can easily be handled with Gamma Knife.

Where do you live?

Email me your phone number at: christine@her2support.org

We can talk.

Hugs and well wishes,
Christine and Joe

[Lisa]

There is so much more than hope. With only 1 tumor, Gamma Knife or Cyber Knife is very possible. You may not need surgery at all. Just talk to a radiation oncologist. The link Joe mentioned explains a lot.

Love and light,

Lisa

[StephN]

Hello fellow brain met survivor!

With only one (and GOOD that you insisted on a screening MRI!), Gamma Knife should be possible. You should be able to avoid open surgery if it is not in a very deep or difficult place.

If you find out the location of the met - let us know and we can tell you more based on our experiences.

I had Gamma Knife on two tumors in my cerebellum on Jan. 18 - and they seem to be dead and gone at this point. The large one was 3 cm.

My CEA was edging up and this was the indicator for the brain mets. It is now WAY down below normal. Are you following any tumor markers on this?? Ask about this right away.

There is plenty of hope for a complete resolution of this met. Just ask many of us here! You will hear from a chorus of survivors. ;)

[Merridith]

Hi Elayel:

What was your cancer status before you asked for the MRI? The doctors that I have seem to strongly discourage getting a preventative MRI.

Just wondering.....

Regards,
Merridith

[pattyz]

My first dx with brain mets also showed one lesion 1.5cm in size. The pre-treatment MRI with triple contrast showed a second small 6mm lesion. Both of which were treated successfully with focalized radiation ie. Stereotactic similar to Gamma Knife.

Going without Whole Brain Rads (WBR) leaves you open to having more mets show up, as it did for me. However, over the course of the past three years I have had another 14 brain mets treated in batches with an additional 4 focalized treatments. I have so far avoided WBR doing it this way, which has caused me some strong antagonism from my first rad onc.

That said, having WBR upfront does in NO WAY guarentee you to stay brain mets free down the line.

Having a single lesion removed surgically with focalized radiation to area afterwards, as your onc is thinking... (sometimes a few lesions can be removed at one time) is not bad advice, either. This method has a good track record.

Much of what kind of treatment is recommended has to do with your health otherwise, as to any other systemic mets you may have and health in general.

Other than that, the final course of treatment decision is up to you. You can 'fight' for what you prefer, as I did, after doing lots of research and soul searching.

best wishes,
pattyz