minnie Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 Finally got the results from my mother's brain MRI. She has three tumors on the left side of her brain. This is devastating news. She was doing so well for over a year. She was exercising, cooking, living life as normal. She begins radiation and oral chemotherapy tomorrow. I was just planning on going home for three weeks. Just in time. I leave tomorrow. I am so afraid. I just don't understand how this can sneak up so quickly. She had a chest X-ray a few months ago and her lungs were clear. There was nothing in her lungs. How can this be? I'm just really distressed over this. I really hoped that it would be something less serious. Why does this have to happen? Minnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jana_W Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 Minnie I am so sorry to read about the news of your Mum's brain tumours. Of course you are scared and upset and you have every right to be. It must knock your socks of when things are going so well, and then you get some bad news. But, there seems to be so many people here who have had brain mets and had them successfully treated that and I really hope your Mum is another one. It is great that you are going home and can spend some time with your Mum. Please let us know how she goes with the treatment. Sending you best wishes Jana xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinaresholz Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 Minnie, Sorry to hear about your mother. Hope everything will be all right. Prayers and good wishes. Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 Minnie, so sorry about your mom's mets. There is a theory about cancer that the cells that survive treatment are the stronger, more virilent ones, and so the cancer grows faster when it returns. These mets can be treated so don't give up hope. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy RN Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 Get her into treatment fast, good luck, Cindy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stand4hope Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 Darn it, Minnie, I wish we knew why these things happen, but unfortunately we don't. They just do. You've heard the expression, "Why me?" The reverse of that is "Why NOT me?" Just like the others said, though, just because the brain mets are there, it doesn't mean things still can't remain pretty much the same. My husband started out with 8 brain mets and is down to 4. He had WBR almost a year ago, and the Novalis to each individual tumor, and he is doing fine even with the 4 mets still there. It will be ok. Really. If she was doing well yesterday, she's still doing well today, even though you know this test result. Take a great big deep breath, relax your shoulders and smile. It will be ok. Love, Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna G Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 Minnie this is sad news, but the up side is a plan is in place for treatment. Let us know how it is going. Donna G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimblanchard Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 Very similar to my Mom's case.......after a couple months of chemo her cancer went into remission and the CT Scan showed nothing, clear, no sign of nodules, so she actually stopped treatments for a while, but the cancer did return and thats when we discovered she had met's to the brain and liver. I do believe its more aggressive if the cancer returns, but definetely do the treatments and hang in there, some people do very well even though they have this situation. God Bless!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 I am so sorry. I hope treatment zaps them out of there for good. elaine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhutch1366 Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 Minnie, I hope the treatment is fully effective for your mom. Wishing you the best.. xOXOXOXOXOXOXOX Prayers, always, MaryAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karenl Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 Minnie I am sorry to read this news - I hope the treatment is effective for your Mom, and that she and NED get back together. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwoodburn Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 Minnie, It is never good news to be diagnosed with brain mets but there is some reason to be optimistic. She only has three brain mets and these can usually be eradicated with current technology of whole brain radiation and radiosurgery. She has the potential to do very well. If she has nothing in other organs and was very functional, that is more good news for her. It is not true that when cancer comes back it is more aggressive. In fact, one good sign is your mother has done well for a year making me think that the cancer might be less aggressive. Don't give up hope. You never know how things will go. Robert Woodburn M.D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bean_si (Not Active) Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 Minnie, I'm sorry to hear about the mets. I can imagine the shock considering how well she was doing. Darn that freaking beast of a disease. Here's a huge hope that the treatment will zing them. Prayers for you and your mom. Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chumma Posted July 31, 2004 Share Posted July 31, 2004 Minnie, Sorry to hear about your mother. Ask your doctor if gamma knife surgery is an option. Best wishes Betsy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnie Posted August 3, 2004 Author Share Posted August 3, 2004 I've been home now for a few days and this is the first time I have had a chance to get to the computer. Thanks so much for the encouraging words. We're going to see the radiologist in the morning. I thought radiation would start last week, but now there's some insurance issues. Doc wants her to have radiation and oral chemo, but insurance might not pay for the oral chemo. I still don't know what the name of the med is yet. I hope to find out more when I go with my mother to her appointment in the morning. I really hope that all works out well. My sister's getting married in November and we were all pretty excited about it. I just hate how LC just takes the zest out of life, out of everything that we hope and dream for. I'll be sure to keep you all posted on her progress. And thanks again so much for the kind words. Minnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJAS Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 Minnie, I was a bit slow to read your post. Re: the brain mets - I really suggest you get more than one opinion. There are definitely strongly different philosophies about brain met tx. Get all the info (and be prepared for experts having opinions totally opposite) and then make your own informed decision. Good luck with the insurance - we all struggle with that one. Just keep at 'em. There has been research that shows that the more "vocal" (and thus often less popular) patient may live longer. I think you can do it in a friendly way - it's the persistence that counts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babesdaughter Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 Doc wants her to have radiation and oral chemo, but insurance might not pay for the oral chemo. I still don't know what the name of the med is yet. I hope to find out more when I go with my mother to her appointment in the morning. Minnie Some insurance companies won't pay for oral chemo if it's done outpatient. Sometimes, with the right doc, they'll admit a patient for a day or two for the course of the treatment. Insurance will usually pay for any drug administered "inpatient".....ridiculous, but true. I have dear friend that just went through treatment for brain cancer and that's what they ended up doing to avoid the huge pharmacy costs. Good luck to you and your Mom. Prayers are with you. Paige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnie Posted August 5, 2004 Author Share Posted August 5, 2004 Insurance approved the medication for my mom, though it was still terribly expensive. She began whole brain radiation Tuesday. As for second opinions, she has seen a different radiologist and he agrees with the current course of treatment. I really appreciate the honesty of the doctors. They are not painting a rosy picture nor are they painting a dismal one. They are treating her aggressively and telling us that we'll have to see how this treatment goes. I suppose I'm thankful really that they didn't put a number on the amount of time that my omther has to live. After all, statistics show she's not supposed to even be here now. I just hope that one again she can defy those statistics. Thanks to all for the posts. Minnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nushka Posted August 5, 2004 Share Posted August 5, 2004 I am glad you got things worked out with the insurance company about the meds. It sounds like your doctor has a good plan. There are many on this board that have had good results with brain mets and are months and years past the time of treatment. I hope your mom joins their number. Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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