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StephN · 10-24-2009, 12:09 PM

Hi - sorry to learn you have joined the Brain Mets Club. But very glad it was only one and you had Gamma Knife. After three years on Herceptin my annual brain MRI turned up two tumors. My onc was ordering annual brain checks once I became stage IV. He found a "symptom" to report so I could have the scans.

I had Gamma Knife to treat them and that was FIVE years ago. No new tumors in brain since that time. Going in for my 6 month scan next Friday, so hope to have the same news! I was checked every 2 months for a couple of times, then spread to 3, then 4 for a couple of years and now 6 month interval between brain MRIs.

I did not have headaches or pains in my head, only a numbness where nerves were deadened for the head frame that took a couple of months to go away.

Hope you will do well, as studies show the odds are very high that if there are 3 or less mets in brain, they will be successfully treated and not appear again.

10-24-2009, 12:09 PM	#3
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: Bran tumor after 8 years on Herceptin Hi - sorry to learn you have joined the Brain Mets Club. But very glad it was only one and you had Gamma Knife. After three years on Herceptin my annual brain MRI turned up two tumors. My onc was ordering annual brain checks once I became stage IV. He found a "symptom" to report so I could have the scans. I had Gamma Knife to treat them and that was FIVE years ago. No new tumors in brain since that time. Going in for my 6 month scan next Friday, so hope to have the same news! I was checked every 2 months for a couple of times, then spread to 3, then 4 for a couple of years and now 6 month interval between brain MRIs. I did not have headaches or pains in my head, only a numbness where nerves were deadened for the head frame that took a couple of months to go away. Hope you will do well, as studies show the odds are very high that if there are 3 or less mets in brain, they will be successfully treated and not appear again. __________________ "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.