WBR with boosted targeted rads?

[hutchibk]

OK, I have 3 brain mets, 2 that are about 9mm and one that is a 'punctate'.
We suspect that there are more that have seeded the brain but are beneath our detection ability.

Has anyone here had 21 days of WBR with 5 days of boosted targeted radiation to the known mets at the end of the WBR?

This is the radiation plan that my docs want to talk to me about tomorrow in combo with Ty/Xel...

I am still planning to push for targeted rads only first with Ty/Xel, and then WBR somewhere down the line as last resort if needed.

[StephN]

I dear, departed friend of mine had the whole brain rad therapy that you mention in your question. This was years ago and she had inflammatory BC with multi-foci brain mets. There was no avoiding the WBR for her at that time. Her hair never grew back except for a whisp here or there. She could not drive for 8 months and then she developed some side effects from the WBR and things led to things. We had the same med onc, the one who sent me to the Gamma Knife first and then said WBR would be a back up plan.

Each case is different and needs to be examined and treated on its own merits.
Your docs only suspect there may be more mets. There is a link to a trial with the ALLOS drug on the trials page here. I think that is a ten day treatment - maybe look into that one if you want the WBR, but want to try a special radiosensitizer for maximum effect.

Good luck. I treated what I knew I had and that has turned out to be all so far.

[hutchibk]

Thanks Steph - I am not wanting WBR, but am just trying to gather all of the info that I can before I meet with them tomorrow.

I am actually planning on having them refer me to MD Anderson since I live pretty close (2 hours away).

I love my onc, but we are at a tricky crossroads here and I want to be sure that we are as forward thinking as possible.