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Andrea Barnett Budin · 06-03-2007, 10:25 AM

Just wanted to add my 2 cents on this... According to my oncs, brain mets are occuring SYMPTOMATICALLY -- no symptoms. So onc wants me to have MRI at least annually, if not ev 6 mnths (writes HEADACHES for insur). He also says they "usually" early on after 1st bc dx or after met. My mets into liver were in "98. Gone since '99. He doesn't think I'm at high risk, but had 3 patients present w/brain mets last wk and is now being admittedly overly cautious. He was quite shaken by this factor.

Also -- for me -- tumor markers don't become elevated into mnths after dx, so unreliable for me. Interested in HER2 SERUM test someone mentioned instead. Can you tell me more about this? I'm advocating...

Sending healing energy to all my beloved Sisters, ANDI

06-03-2007, 10:25 AM	#8
Andrea Barnett Budin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW... Posts: 1,904	Brain Mri Just wanted to add my 2 cents on this... According to my oncs, brain mets are occuring SYMPTOMATICALLY -- no symptoms. So onc wants me to have MRI at least annually, if not ev 6 mnths (writes HEADACHES for insur). He also says they "usually" early on after 1st bc dx or after met. My mets into liver were in "98. Gone since '99. He doesn't think I'm at high risk, but had 3 patients present w/brain mets last wk and is now being admittedly overly cautious. He was quite shaken by this factor. Also -- for me -- tumor markers don't become elevated into mnths after dx, so unreliable for me. Interested in HER2 SERUM test someone mentioned instead. Can you tell me more about this? I'm advocating... Sending healing energy to all my beloved Sisters, ANDI __________________ Andi BB '95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive... '98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!) + good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either... Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...