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Hi Ruth -
Your tumor pathology sounds about like mine. My mets (not brain) came fast and furious only 3 months after completing chemeo and rads (no Herceptin avail at the time of adjuvent treatment). So, I hope your getting Herceptin now will stave off progression.
With that many positive nodes, your med onc may be willing to order a brain MRI for you a short way down the road. Just tell him you have some strange feeling down your arm or something and that should be enough for the insurance to pay. (That is what I said - but it was true.)
Just getting off Herceptin may not be a good time to push for brain MRI if you indeed have no symptoms. Supposedly the Herceptin is targeting all the loose cancer cells before they can get into your brain. This is the logic, but I don't buy it 100% myself.
I think the most important thing is to have regular checks for ALL possible mets sites - i.e. scans and frequent markers drawn. Mets normally do not have pain associated with them in the early stages and this is why we need all the regular tests.
Live your life, but stay On Guard.
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