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Her2 neg brain met
The pathology report on my recent brain met, which was removed by surgery last month, was HER2-.
I was really surprised by this. My lung met was HER2+, and ER-/PR-, just like my primary cancer. It was originally removed by a wedge resection in spring 2007, and a year later there was a recurrence in the area of the surgery even though the margins were clean. The recurrence was zapped with radiofrequency in August this year.
According to my oncologist, there's a 10% to 15% chance of discordance, when the met is not the same profile as the primary cancer.
There's also been a recommendation that I don't add anything to the Herceptin I'm already taking, because now that the brain met was removed and the lung met was zapped with RFA, there would be no way to monitor whether Xeloda or Tykerb was working since I have no other mets. These are the two drugs that I was considering.
Also, what good would Tykerb do on a HER2- tumor? I wonder whether there's discordance because I've been taking Herceptin. Forgot to ask my onc these questions. But I need to find out.
The tumor was tested with the HerceptTest and was 1+, or negative.
I'm still recuperating from the brain surgery, but have started working from home via the computer.
Next week is my appointment with the rads onc to plan for the stereotatic radiotherapy for radiating the brain tumor bed.
Joan
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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!!
Last edited by Joan M; 11-08-2008 at 01:39 PM..
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