2nd try - brain mets from the start

[v-ness]

since i attempted this post the other day i've had more news on my niece. at first i got a message that my husband's niece had surgery on a tumor on her pituitary gland that had invaded her sinus cavity and the doctors, in the physical exam, discovered a mass. a needle biopsy showed it is breast cancer. her parents told me the brain tumor is "related to" the breast cancer, so i thought it was mets. i could not understand why in the world they would do Gamma Knife and anti-estrogen therapy to shrink the tumor in her breast and no chemo. it made no sense if she was stage 4. however, today i got a bit more info and talked to my doc as well. he told me that a pituitary gland tumor is usually benign, but can wreak havoc on your hormones. perhaps that is partly why her apparent ER+ BC developed. they couldn't get the whole tumor, hence the Gamma Knife for the future. in fact, she still doesn't even know what stage she is, she's had no sentinel node biopsy nor a lumpectomy, though a PET is in the works.

so when i tried to write this post the other day i was extremely upset. i just lost a triple negative friend to brain mets in february, then this loss of courtney a week ago.... so when my niece was diagnosed and had this brain tumor i kind of lost it for a day or two. you know when things are just too much? she is only 38, young like courtney and my friend kim. what the hell is going ON????

i feel a little better today hearing (albeit 3rd hand) that her pituitary tumor was benign. i pray it is not in her sentinel node nor anywhere else. this kid has had it rough. diabetes since age 5, almost died several times, terrible car accident 2 yrs ago that left her in traction for 3 months, MRSA, now these two things in tandem.

i offered to be of any help possible if they need help understanding all the breast cancer lingo or guidance to good sites on the net. she and her husband haven't contacted me, but at least the offer is there. i know how much it means to connect with someone who's *been there*.

anyway, that is the story for now. my original fear of stage 4 brain mets right at diagnosis seems to be wrong - thank god. i would give anything for her to get some break and have stage one. thanks for listening.

v