HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Update after no-surgery date....

StephN · 10-30-2006, 01:47 PM

Hi -
somehow I had missed that we had our brain tumors radiated on the SAME DAY, only one year apart. Guess I was getting busy with this year's challenge about the time your met showed up. I was then dealing with my radiated big met lighting up to a major degree, but not increasing, just showing major activity in the old tumor bed.

Never be surprised at anything with these radiated tumors. The process can take a number of turns I have learned. It also looks like you are getting more used to having something happening in your brain that you just have to keep a watch on unless you have something like earlier this month. We learn to just go on with life and give these things attention when it is time - just try to relegate it to the back of your mind.

My second very small tumor "went away" and then almost 18 months later showed up AGAIN. It is not changing much and I have no symptoms from it, so the docs feel it is the necrosis and are not wanting to rush in there like last Jan/Feb. Kind of like the tiny spot on my liver that does not change from year to year and the med onc is sure is not tumor.

WHAT IS ANOTHER SPOT IN OUR LIFE ANYWAY??? Merely an annoyance from time to time.

10-30-2006, 01:47 PM	#3
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Same Gamma day! Hi - somehow I had missed that we had our brain tumors radiated on the SAME DAY, only one year apart. Guess I was getting busy with this year's challenge about the time your met showed up. I was then dealing with my radiated big met lighting up to a major degree, but not increasing, just showing major activity in the old tumor bed. Never be surprised at anything with these radiated tumors. The process can take a number of turns I have learned. It also looks like you are getting more used to having something happening in your brain that you just have to keep a watch on unless you have something like earlier this month. We learn to just go on with life and give these things attention when it is time - just try to relegate it to the back of your mind. My second very small tumor "went away" and then almost 18 months later showed up AGAIN. It is not changing much and I have no symptoms from it, so the docs feel it is the necrosis and are not wanting to rush in there like last Jan/Feb. Kind of like the tiny spot on my liver that does not change from year to year and the med onc is sure is not tumor. WHAT IS ANOTHER SPOT IN OUR LIFE ANYWAY??? Merely an annoyance from time to time. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.