Quick Brain Radiation Question For Hubby

[Believe51]

When finding 3 spots on the brain do they normally radiate entire brain or has there been cases of targeted therapy?? Just asking now for more ammo.>>Waiting For A Miracle>>Believe51

PS Please read my response post to "Horrific News For Hubby". There are things I want you to hear!! Love You All

[Audrey]

Just wanted to share that a good friend of mine was diagnosed with brain mets (three sites) about six months ago and was told to have whole brain radiation. She sought a second opinion at Cedars Sinai in LA and they said gamma knife (lasers focused on the specific lesions, not the whole brain) was an acceptable alternative. She went ahead with the gamma knife procedure and is now doing great. She's happy she decided on the gamma knife and will save the WBR for the future, if needed. I remember, at the time she was diagnosed, I printed out an article I found here on the brain mets part of this website. The article was from More magazine and it discussed the gamma knife procedure. You might see if this treatment is available for your husband--it seems to be less drastic/less side effects than the whole brain radiation. Wish I could be more helpful--my heart goes out to you and your husband. Keep the faith!

[Beckie]

I will also be having WBR treatments, along with Tykerb, and then Xeloda, beginning on the 9th. If the only advancement in my disease was the brain mets, I think I would try to do Gamma Knife. But because there is advancement in my bones and lymph nodes, it makes sense to me to try to kill anything else that may be floating around in there. Then when everthing has stopped growing, I can still have the targeted rads if I need them. This is what I understand now, and my plan of attack. I will be praying the treatments will be successful for both of us!
God bless you, and I am glad you can rest and enjoy your time together.

Beckie

[Lala]

It depends on the location of the tumors, size and overall picture of the brain. I have heard it is possible to do up to 4 lesions using Stereotactic Radiosurgery; it truly depends on the Neurosurgeons opinion. I am aware of a well known Neurosurgeon who uses Gamma Knife that will do many at a time. It really depends on the skill of the Neurosurgeon.

This is why a 2nd opinion is important.

[hutchibk]

I learned that I had 5 'punctates' in April and 2 lesions 9mm in size in my brain. We were considering WBR, but I was not ready for that. We also talked about 'whack-a-mole' targeted radiation on the bigger lesions and watchful waiting on the punctates... I also had a new chest spot and a new node show up, so we changed my treatment to Tykerb/Xeloda. At that time I asked the docs if we could wait on rads and see what the Ty/Xel accomplished and they agreed to it as long as we MRIed the brain every 5-6 weeks. So far in 8 weeks of Ty/Xel, the brain spots are completely stable and one of the 9mm spots has started to be 'less enhanced' on MRI. My tumor markers have dropped from a high of 45.1 to 17.5...

Not the approach that would be best for everyone, but it is working well for me right now. If we don't see some more significant disappearance of the 9mm spots on the next scan Aug 1, then I will probably ask for targeted rads of those two spots at that time.

[Believe51]

Thanks girls for your replies, we will certainly be taking them to DFCI tomorrow. We are certainly blessed for having you involved in our journey...>Waiting For A Miracle>>Believe51..(Marie G)