HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post

StephN · 08-29-2008, 11:37 AM

Dear Marie & Ed -
Yes - six months is WAY to long for followup for brain mets. Don't know what they were thinking?!?

In my case I had a 6 week check (MRI) after Gamma Knife then every two months for 3 times, then every 3 months for 3 times, then every 4 months for 2 times and now I am finally up to a 6 months followup after 3 years of no new tumor activity! And this close followup is with me being NED everywhere else.

All your reading here must have sunk in that NONE of us ever had a 6 month wait for followup after treatment to our brains.

I did not feel that my rad onc is just keeping close track for the money involved, as I go to a huge medical center that is more than busy! He just is a concerned and proactive doctor.

Glad you are on board with a great Gamma Knife doc. He will NOT let Ed slip through any cracks in their system.

With Gamma Knife, there is so little recovery that you will both be able to fully enjoy your cruise!

08-29-2008, 11:37 AM	#16
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Dear Marie & Ed - Yes - six months is WAY to long for followup for brain mets. Don't know what they were thinking?!? In my case I had a 6 week check (MRI) after Gamma Knife then every two months for 3 times, then every 3 months for 3 times, then every 4 months for 2 times and now I am finally up to a 6 months followup after 3 years of no new tumor activity! And this close followup is with me being NED everywhere else. All your reading here must have sunk in that NONE of us ever had a 6 month wait for followup after treatment to our brains. I did not feel that my rad onc is just keeping close track for the money involved, as I go to a huge medical center that is more than busy! He just is a concerned and proactive doctor. Glad you are on board with a great Gamma Knife doc. He will NOT let Ed slip through any cracks in their system. With Gamma Knife, there is so little recovery that you will both be able to fully enjoy your cruise! __________________ "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.