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Joan M · 11-20-2008, 03:56 PM

Hi Cathy,

Among other things, a difference between primary tumors and metastases is that mets frequently come in plural, or more than one, while primaries are single tumors. So a doctor might say to a patient with bc mets that they should do wbr because other mets may develop.

Today though with many cancer patients trying to be proactive with scans, mets are frequently singular. I had one lung met found on a routine scan, but even after it was removed by a wedge rection and recurred a year later and was zapped, I still had no other lung mets, so maybe that's not a good example. I had one brain met, but then I was doing annual MRIs of the brain. However, if I hadn't been doing the scans when my bc spread last year to my lung, more brain mets may have developed and caused symptoms. I didn't have any symptoms because the met was discovered by the scan first.

So, sometimes I think a doctor might suggest wbr in a mets situation.

Also, when a cancer patient presents with one tumor in a secondary location, often a biopsy is performed to rule out another primary cancer, such as in the lung (I had a biopsy), and also in the liver.

Joan

11-20-2008, 03:56 PM	#7
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Hi Cathy, Among other things, a difference between primary tumors and metastases is that mets frequently come in plural, or more than one, while primaries are single tumors. So a doctor might say to a patient with bc mets that they should do wbr because other mets may develop. Today though with many cancer patients trying to be proactive with scans, mets are frequently singular. I had one lung met found on a routine scan, but even after it was removed by a wedge rection and recurred a year later and was zapped, I still had no other lung mets, so maybe that's not a good example. I had one brain met, but then I was doing annual MRIs of the brain. However, if I hadn't been doing the scans when my bc spread last year to my lung, more brain mets may have developed and caused symptoms. I didn't have any symptoms because the met was discovered by the scan first. So, sometimes I think a doctor might suggest wbr in a mets situation. Also, when a cancer patient presents with one tumor in a secondary location, often a biopsy is performed to rule out another primary cancer, such as in the lung (I had a biopsy), and also in the liver. Joan __________________ Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2023 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!!