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Joan M · 10-25-2011, 12:23 PM

Raquel,

Good to hear that you're making a lot of progress, and you seem in good hands.

I had both a lung resection and a lung RFA. In both cases the tumor was 9 mm-1 cm, so they were small.

I did the resection first and the margins were clean. When the tumor reappeared a year later I did the RFA. So, I personally did not get a lot out of the resection, but that varies from patient to patient.

I had the sense after the lung tumor recurred that doing surgery was like doing a lumpectomy, but without radiation. And that's a big "but." Perhaps I should have checked into following up with radiation, but at the time it didn't dawn on me, and nobody suggested it. And I'm not that sure I'd want to radiate my lungs, even though that's done for lung cancer.

With the RFA, I felt that at least the tumor was burned, with a margin, as well. And the IR doc told me afterward that there was also 2 mm tumor in the area, and he ablated that, as well. As Cool Breeze said, "there was a very tiny tumor in the other half that was ablated using the microwave technique." IR docs do that technique. So there may have been an IR doc also in the operating room. Cryoablation is also done in the liver. That's encasing the tumor in an ice ball to ablate it.

The size and location of the tumor matter. RFA is done for tumors up to 3.5 cm.

Joan

10-25-2011, 12:23 PM	#20
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Re: Lung met question Raquel, Good to hear that you're making a lot of progress, and you seem in good hands. I had both a lung resection and a lung RFA. In both cases the tumor was 9 mm-1 cm, so they were small. I did the resection first and the margins were clean. When the tumor reappeared a year later I did the RFA. So, I personally did not get a lot out of the resection, but that varies from patient to patient. I had the sense after the lung tumor recurred that doing surgery was like doing a lumpectomy, but without radiation. And that's a big "but." Perhaps I should have checked into following up with radiation, but at the time it didn't dawn on me, and nobody suggested it. And I'm not that sure I'd want to radiate my lungs, even though that's done for lung cancer. With the RFA, I felt that at least the tumor was burned, with a margin, as well. And the IR doc told me afterward that there was also 2 mm tumor in the area, and he ablated that, as well. As Cool Breeze said, "there was a very tiny tumor in the other half that was ablated using the microwave technique." IR docs do that technique. So there may have been an IR doc also in the operating room. Cryoablation is also done in the liver. That's encasing the tumor in an ice ball to ablate it. The size and location of the tumor matter. RFA is done for tumors up to 3.5 cm. 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 2021 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!! Last edited by Joan M; 10-25-2011 at 12:25 PM..