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Andrea Barnett Budin · 06-03-2007, 12:30 PM

Thanks so very much for a comprehensive heads up on the Omegas. Very edifying! I think what I meant to say re brain mets is that my onc said if you've already had a met, it's unlikely (not a sure thing) that you will get brain mets. They generally appear as yr 1st met. Again, many exceptions no doubt. But for me that news was a tad reassuring. Then a friend who had a met into liver, like me, had brain mets. So I'm back to that being my worst nightmare. There I go again FEARING, which I recommend totally as being nothing more than defeating. I know this, yet my mind wanders into that scary place every so often. As I said, my onc, having seen 3 brain mets in the last wk is now recommending ev 6 mnth brain MRIs. And I'm "due".

Last one my insur co denied WITH contrast, saying they'd pay for without -- and IF they found something they'd pay for WITH. So the report said they saw nothing but that it is extremely difficult to read without contrast! I asked my onc if we should fight this (last yr) and he had this defeatist attitude, saying it was a catch 22. I felt aggravated, forever angry w/my insur co, but grateful they do not bother me about Herceptin (since '99). Am wondering -- I'm now 62 -- does Medicare give problems w/longterm Herceptin. A thought that comes into my sphere of awareness from time to time, yrs early, but wondering. ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS TROUBLESOME ISSUE????? Sending loving energy to all my Soul Sisters... ANDI

06-03-2007, 12:30 PM	#6
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 METS and OMEGA 3 & 6 Thanks so very much for a comprehensive heads up on the Omegas. Very edifying! I think what I meant to say re brain mets is that my onc said if you've already had a met, it's unlikely (not a sure thing) that you will get brain mets. They generally appear as yr 1st met. Again, many exceptions no doubt. But for me that news was a tad reassuring. Then a friend who had a met into liver, like me, had brain mets. So I'm back to that being my worst nightmare. There I go again FEARING, which I recommend totally as being nothing more than defeating. I know this, yet my mind wanders into that scary place every so often. As I said, my onc, having seen 3 brain mets in the last wk is now recommending ev 6 mnth brain MRIs. And I'm "due". Last one my insur co denied WITH contrast, saying they'd pay for without -- and IF they found something they'd pay for WITH. So the report said they saw nothing but that it is extremely difficult to read without contrast! I asked my onc if we should fight this (last yr) and he had this defeatist attitude, saying it was a catch 22. I felt aggravated, forever angry w/my insur co, but grateful they do not bother me about Herceptin (since '99). Am wondering -- I'm now 62 -- does Medicare give problems w/longterm Herceptin. A thought that comes into my sphere of awareness from time to time, yrs early, but wondering. ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS TROUBLESOME ISSUE????? Sending loving energy to all my Soul 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...