HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Need your Help/Advice

Joan M · 01-22-2011, 04:30 PM

Kris,

The message board gave me a lot of support when my brain tumor was diagnosed. I was given a lot of comfort by members who had and who never had a brain met, as well as from women who are early stage.

The next step is to find out whether you are a candidate for stereotatic radiosurgery. I had a craniotomy followed by five dosages of stereotatic radiotherapy. I was disappointed initially because I though the tumor in my left front lobe could be handled in one targeted shot of radiation. The docs said that at 2.6 cm the tumor was too big for that and there would be better control with surgery followed by radiation, but Steph's tumor was larger than that and she had SRS, or one shot.

Let us know.

Joan

01-22-2011, 04:30 PM	#12
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Re: Need your Help/Advice - Got Dx with Brain Met Kris, The message board gave me a lot of support when my brain tumor was diagnosed. I was given a lot of comfort by members who had and who never had a brain met, as well as from women who are early stage. The next step is to find out whether you are a candidate for stereotatic radiosurgery. I had a craniotomy followed by five dosages of stereotatic radiotherapy. I was disappointed initially because I though the tumor in my left front lobe could be handled in one targeted shot of radiation. The docs said that at 2.6 cm the tumor was too big for that and there would be better control with surgery followed by radiation, but Steph's tumor was larger than that and she had SRS, or one shot. Let us know. 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!!