Hello Everyone,

First let me thank all of you who responded to my earlier post concerning Cyndi’s brain mets. I have not had access to a computer for a while so I could not keep everyone posted, but I have read your post since being home.

We went to see a neuro-surgeon in Dallas at Southwestern Medical Center, a place where both CyberKnife and Gamma Knife are available. The surgeon said that he counted eleven lesions but since the MRI was done at a rather large spacing, it is likely that there are other small lesions which cannot be seen on this MRI. He also said that he had treated as many as twenty five with Gamma Knife but that when numbers are high, the total radiation delivered to the brain tends to equal the radiation given with whole brain without the benefit associated with WBR. Additionally he said that the risk of stroke or seizures is also slightly elevated with the SRS procedures. This was the deciding factor for Cyndi.

Cyndi has an appointment with both the medical and radiation oncologist Monday 6/14, we expect to begin WBR shortly after those appointments. We need to know what some of your experiences are with WBR. How many treatments? How often? Were these given in or out patient? I know each person is different and no definitive answer is available before seeing the doctors, but I would like to know what others have experienced.

We know without doubt, that if the devil can bring us to it, that God can bring us through it! My prayers are for all of us who live with this disease, especially the warriors.

God Bless You All,
ron

Ron,
I am wishing your wife well.
My sister completed WBR 6 wks ago - 5 sessions consecutive days on an out-patient basis. Side effects for her: hair loss, extreme fatigue, severe thirst, dizziness, blurred vision. (Some of these symptoms could be a result of the Decadron.) We are thrilled so say that although it was a huge set-back for her, she is getting stronger every day. She is currently receiving Taxol/Herceptin.
Ron, I was wondering if Cyndi's doctors dicussed SRS procedure following her WBR if needed??
Good luck and please keep us posted
Celina

Dear Ron and Cyndi,

No help here from me, but wanted to say that it sounds like you are in excellent hands with the doctors you've chosen.

Will be keeping you both in thought and prayer, hoping for fantastic results, few side effects and quick recovery.

And may you find only the most compassionate caregivers throughout this experience.

love with hugs,
pattyz

Ron- I had WBR last August for 6 lesions-all under 1 cm but my onc said WBR was the only way to go at that time as there were too many to do
Cyberknife or gamma knife. I had 15 sessions- Monday- Friday (weekends off for good behavior!)
Recently I had cyberknife to tackle 3 remaining tumors which my radiation dr said were left over from the WBR. They were very small and I had 2 sessions of cyberkife for those. The WBR left me very tired but otherwise ok-