Al is right, check the brain, Can you help me?

[R.B.]

And here is another general trial on the subject

Fats would seem to have a part to play.

RB

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_docsum
ABSTRACT

1: Neurol Res. 1987 Mar;9(1):38-43. Related Articles, Links

Membrane phospholipid composition and membrane fluidity of human brain tumour: a spin label study.

Hattori T, Andoh T, Sakai N, Yamada H, Kameyama Y, Ohki K, Nozawa Y.

Membrane fluidity in membrane phospholipids of brain tumours was investigated and compared with those of white and grey matter. Fifteen brain tumours including 5 gliomas, 5 meningiomas and 5 metastatic cancers were examined. These samples were frozen immediately after extirpation in liquid nitrogen. After extraction of total lipids from the tumour tissues, membrane phospholipids were separated and analysed by thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography. The fluidity of the phospholipid membrane was studied by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, using a stearate spin probe. The fatty acid composition of total phospholipid of brain tumours was characterized by an increase in linoleic and arachidonic acids when compared to the control brain. The percentage of palmitoleic acid was higher in gliomas and metastatic tumours than in meningiomas. Furthermore, in the brain tumour tissues, the decreases of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine and the increase of phosphatidylcholine were observed when compared with grey or white matter with the exception of meningioma. There was some difference in phospholipid membrane fluidity between brain tumour and control brain tissue. The order parameter calculated from ESR spectra became higher in the following order: metastatic brain tumour, less than meningioma, less than grey matter, less than glioma, less than white matter. These results suggest that the phospholipid metabolism in the brain tumour is different from that of the normal brain, and this difference may affect the alteration of membrane physical properties which exhibit in part the character of the transformation.

PMID: 2883605 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[StephN]

... but join the club. Yes, as PattyZ mentioned, if there is no active cancer in the rest of your body, you have a good chance of conquering the few brain mets you have. Especially at their size.
This also means that you will be monitored by brain MRI every 2 or 3 months for the foreseeable future to catch any more that might show up in an early stage. It is good that your body gave you some warning with the headache. My body gave me NO warning with symptoms and I had a met get rather large that is giving me some problems later.

Looks like your support at home is very strong and this will help.

As far as RB's information on the fatty composition of various brain tumors, I am trying to figure out if it is good to intake the nuts and things, or if I should lay off them. This fatty acid thing IS rather complicated and I have a hard time just focusing on the long names. I do take my flax seed oil daily and it is balanced between the omega 3, 6 and 9s. ALso use a lot of high quality olive oil.

Hi to you again,


Im getting mixed up in fatty acid but cod liver oil, fish and omega3 has been part of Icealanders nutrition because of fishing, harsh country ets. We even used to lit our old farms with it, made a soap etc. No other oil were available and the fat was butter. maybe we should turn back to the old time nutrition, the basic with good fruits added and good water (hopefully we have lots of that running wild)

I was glad to hear from all of you that have the experince because that helps us to go on and help others and in the end we all are victories.

And Al I thank you specially because I know last months have been hard on you and your family, Your Linda had brain mets but didn´t succeed, Im so srry, but we can learn adn share

[R.B.]

This link allows you to check out the fat content of nuts.

http://www.nutritiondata.com/fatty-acids.html

As a general rule nuts are high in omega six.

Per Ben Best (search for link it is on this site) article for example 63% of walnut if fat and 60% of that is omega six.

Per the site above

http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-B00001-01c20oc.html

117 grams of walnuts contains 45 grams of 18:2 most is likely to be omega six. Walnuts do contain some omega three so are not all bad about 11 grams in the sample given.

Some nuts are lower than others.

32 brazil nuts contain 28 grams omega six - almost a gram a nut = approx 1-2 tps of fish oil to balance dependant on variety etc (total omeag sixes shown at the end of the chart)

http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-B00001-01c20nr.html

Most diet books suggest enough to cover the palm of the hand only daily.

It is difficult I know, but if you are trying to balance the threes and sixes nuts are potentially a big factor as they are a concentrated source of omega six AS ARE MOST SEEDS sunflower, safflower, soy.................. except flax and perillia and odd exceptions.

On an evolutionary basis access to seed was limited both by season, diificulty in gathering etc.

RB

[mamacze]

Johanna,

It must seem overwhelming to have to deal first with bone mets, and now with brain mets, especially after being free from this disease for over 3 years.
you are right, Al is a God-send, his memory is extraordinary and he has provided life saving advice to many on our board. We are all lucky to have him and we are fortunate to have each other...all told we are an amazing bank of knowledge and support.
johanna, please stay with us and let us know how your treatments turn out...also if you have any luck getting Tykerb.
Love Kiim from CT

[Susan2]

http://www.her2support.org/vbulletin...ad.php?t=24057You mentioned statistics. Please take a look at this abstract that Al posted from 2006 ASCO meeting. It says that for the sample population that they reviewed that there is minimal difference in the 3 year survival rates with and without brain mets (compared to other mets). It is truly an exciting study.

Best of everything,
Susan

[Johanna Johannsdottir]

Greetings from Iceland,

I'm overwhelmed and my husband also, he is amazed of you people. We continue here and doing as well as possible. I have friends, family and you all. All the information and help have helped us all to continue to LIVE, what is the major thing. I try to work a little with the brain against the Decadron because I´m activ enough without them and can be hyper if I use them to drive me on. I'm giving myeself the space to do this and letting the others cook and clean.

Best regards,

Jóhanna