HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - WBR no longer necessary first step with Brain Mets

Barbara H. · 01-17-2006, 02:29 PM

Here is my story. I had a craniotomy for a 3 cm met in my pre-frontal cortex in May, 2004. Dr. Black at the Brighham was away at the time so I decided to have Dr. Wu at the BI remove it. I followed up with sterotactic surgery to mop up what may have been left. At that time the radiologists recommended WBR to give me a better chance of targeting any mets that could develop in the future. I decided not to do it because of the possible long term side effects, and I wanted to continue teaching third grade. Later when I had my follow up at the brain tumor clinic at the BI I learned that they were no longer recommending it for everyone, especially younger people. I am not that young. When I discussed it with my oncologist, Dr. Parker, at the Dana Farber, he also said that Dana Farber no longer supports it for everyone. This past November I had another scare. My routine MRI showed probable recurrent disease to the same spot. This time Dr. Peter Black from the Brigham did the surgery. It turned out to be radiation necrosis. I think each case is different. That's why the physicians in the brain tumor clinic review each case. I think the new standard is that WBR used to be always given and now it is no longer routinely given or recommended.
Best wishes,
Barbara H.

01-17-2006, 02:29 PM	#8
Barbara H. Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Newton, MA Posts: 951	For IVW Here is my story. I had a craniotomy for a 3 cm met in my pre-frontal cortex in May, 2004. Dr. Black at the Brighham was away at the time so I decided to have Dr. Wu at the BI remove it. I followed up with sterotactic surgery to mop up what may have been left. At that time the radiologists recommended WBR to give me a better chance of targeting any mets that could develop in the future. I decided not to do it because of the possible long term side effects, and I wanted to continue teaching third grade. Later when I had my follow up at the brain tumor clinic at the BI I learned that they were no longer recommending it for everyone, especially younger people. I am not that young. When I discussed it with my oncologist, Dr. Parker, at the Dana Farber, he also said that Dana Farber no longer supports it for everyone. This past November I had another scare. My routine MRI showed probable recurrent disease to the same spot. This time Dr. Peter Black from the Brigham did the surgery. It turned out to be radiation necrosis. I think each case is different. That's why the physicians in the brain tumor clinic review each case. I think the new standard is that WBR used to be always given and now it is no longer routinely given or recommended. Best wishes, Barbara H.