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StephN · 10-20-2007, 11:48 AM

You will have checkups in the future where you get the same good news.
Wow, Debbie, I am REALLY impressed with the amount you and daughters raised for the Avon Walk. Great going!

Over the years we have had a few members of this board report getting small brain mets before or just after they were finished with adjuvent treatment. Not very many, but they were all treated and seem to be fine as far as we know. If you do have a small met or two, the prognosis is excellent for 3 and under with a radio surgery procedure (like 92% success rate).

I am almost three years post Gamma Knife for two mets. One was quite large in my cerebellum, but still within the limit to have Gamma Knife on it.
In the time since treatment there have been no more spots show up in my brain, and I have not taken anything for that which can cross the blood/brain barrier. These were isolated mets that sneaked in during my outbreak in my liver.

Most major metropolitan areas will have Gamma Knife and more are getting Cyberknife. You may have to check into what the various hospitals/universities near you have to offer and consult with more than one place. (I did that, but since the procedures were similar, I opted to stay in my main hospital group.)

My rad onc gave me good news yesterday that my MRI scan this week showed improvement in my previously treated areas and nothing new. He had been giving some bad news before he saw me and I could see his relief and pleasure in my continued good results. He said I should have hubby take me out to celebrate!

P.S. If you do a search for Gamma Knife and my name, you will find a detailed account of my experience. Patty Z also posted her details.

10-20-2007, 11:48 AM	#11
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	My brain MRI was clear this week! You will have checkups in the future where you get the same good news. Wow, Debbie, I am REALLY impressed with the amount you and daughters raised for the Avon Walk. Great going! Over the years we have had a few members of this board report getting small brain mets before or just after they were finished with adjuvent treatment. Not very many, but they were all treated and seem to be fine as far as we know. If you do have a small met or two, the prognosis is excellent for 3 and under with a radio surgery procedure (like 92% success rate). I am almost three years post Gamma Knife for two mets. One was quite large in my cerebellum, but still within the limit to have Gamma Knife on it. In the time since treatment there have been no more spots show up in my brain, and I have not taken anything for that which can cross the blood/brain barrier. These were isolated mets that sneaked in during my outbreak in my liver. Most major metropolitan areas will have Gamma Knife and more are getting Cyberknife. You may have to check into what the various hospitals/universities near you have to offer and consult with more than one place. (I did that, but since the procedures were similar, I opted to stay in my main hospital group.) My rad onc gave me good news yesterday that my MRI scan this week showed improvement in my previously treated areas and nothing new. He had been giving some bad news before he saw me and I could see his relief and pleasure in my continued good results. He said I should have hubby take me out to celebrate! P.S. If you do a search for Gamma Knife and my name, you will find a detailed account of my experience. Patty Z also posted her details. __________________ "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.