Brain metastasis

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crazylife
Posts: 256
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2015 11:29 am

Brain metastasis

Postby crazylife » Sat Aug 11, 2018 8:30 pm

Sending this in complete shock. After a clear scan in May, DH was diagnosed with a 3.5 cm brain metastasis yesterday. Only symptom was some headaches that started last week.

Anyone have something similar happen?
Wife to DH, 41 years old, diagnosed 11/15
Stage 4, Mod diff, 13/24 LN, 1 liver met
Colon/liver resection at MSK, 11/15
8mm lung met (not confirmed) and enlarged lymph nodes 1/16
12 rounds of folfox (9 with Oxi) 6/16
NED - July 2016
NED - October 2016
3 lung mets - March 2017
7 lung mets, May 2017
RFA to largest met, June 2017
Lung mets growing slowly, October 2017 (off treatment since June 2016)
Right lung surgery, November 2017
Left lung surgery, January 2018
NED - May 2018

stu
Posts: 1613
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2013 5:46 pm

Re: Brain metastasis

Postby stu » Sun Aug 12, 2018 2:12 am

Really sorry to hear that . Thinking of you both .
Stu
supporter to my mum who lives a great life despite a difficult diagnosis
stage4 2009 significant spread to liver
2010 colon /liver resection
chemo following recurrence
73% of liver removed
enjoying life treatment free
2016 lung resection
Oct 2017 nice clear scan . Two lung nodules disappeared
Oct 2018. Another clear scan .

lovelife789
Posts: 161
Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2017 5:28 am

Re: Brain metastasis

Postby lovelife789 » Mon Aug 13, 2018 4:35 am

I don't have any experience to share. I can imagine the shock, keeping you in my prayers.
F/38 - Dx 8 Mar 17, CEA 189.5
Stage IV Sig. Colon, Liver mets, T3N0M1a, KRAS NRAS Wild
3/17- 6/17 - 6 x FOLFOX + Erbitux
7/17 - 1st & 2nd Liver resec
9-12/17' - 13 x FOLFOX
1-6/18 - NED
6/18 - PET SCAN showed a 0.8mm lung nodule, VATs
8/18 - 4/19 - NED
5/19 - recurrence 1 x PALN, 1x common iliac
FOLFIRI + Avastin x 12 - complete response, SBRT
12/19-5/20 - NED
5/20 - recurrence in LNs, tiny liver spots x 2, W n W due to COVID
8/20 - LNs very slightly increased, liver stable, one new liver spot

WarriorSpouse
Posts: 220
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2016 9:02 pm

Re: Brain metastasis

Postby WarriorSpouse » Mon Aug 13, 2018 4:49 pm

I was saddened to read this. Has your husband been off maintenance Chemo since 2016? Will his doctors allow him to begin his treatments again as they attend to his brain mets?

Our thoughts and prayers are with you two.
WS
D/H 47 years old, 10/2014, Stage IV M/CRC, nodes 12/15, para-aortic, 5 cm sigmoid resection, positive Virchow. KRAS mut, MSS, Highly Differentiated, Lynch Neg, 5FU/LV and Avastin 1 YR (Oxi for 5 months), Zeloda/Bev since 01/2016. 02/2019 recurrence para-nodes, back to 5FU/LV Oxy/Bev. It is working again. "...Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other."-Walter Elliot

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Brain metastasis

Postby Lee » Mon Aug 13, 2018 5:06 pm

I am so sorry this is happening to your husband. While it is very rare, yes a few people on this board have dealt with a brain met. Do his doctors have a plan of action yet?

You both will be in my thoughts and prayers for a successful outcome.

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

kandj
Posts: 314
Joined: Sun Sep 27, 2015 11:29 am

Re: Brain metastasis

Postby kandj » Tue Aug 14, 2018 10:23 am

I am so sorry. I hope they can put forward a treatment plan for him. This is just not fair.
wife to DH, dx 8/15 stage IV @36, 12+ liver Mets
HAI placed 12/15
Liver resect 5/19/2016 15-20 mets (surgeon lost count)
Liver Recurrence 7/2017-radiation
Lung met 10/18 VATS
lung/adrenal gland recurrence 11/19
Adrenal ablation 2/20 VATS 3/20
Radiation: 9/20 adrenal gland, 2/21 pancreatic node
9/2021 liver, 4/22 esophageal node
7/2023 proton therapy: liver
140+ rounds of chemo and counting
Chest nodes, lung nodules, and esophageal nodes currently.

User avatar
juliej
Posts: 3114
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 12:59 pm

Re: Brain metastasis

Postby juliej » Tue Aug 14, 2018 5:39 pm

I sit here with tears in my eyes for your DH and this devastating new development! Fortunately, the treatment of brain metastases has advanced substantially in recent years. Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies are helping patients live longer and maintain a good quality of life.

When President Jimmy Carter was diagnosed with brain mets he underwent sterotactic radiation therapy, which delivers focused beams of radiation directly to small spots of cancer instead of to the entire brain. That was followed by immunotherapy (Keytruda) to kill any remaining cells and he's doing just fine now. I'm hoping that the brilliant docs at MSK can come up with a similar plan for your husband.

Sending strength and hope to you!
Juliej
Stage IVb, liver/lung mets 8/4/2010
Xelox+Avastin 8/18/10 to 10/21/2011
LAR, liver resec, HAI pump 11/2011
Adjuvant Irinotecan + FUDR
Double lung surgery + ileo reversal 2/2012
Adjuvant FUDR + Xeloda
VATS rt. lung 12/2012 - benign granuloma!
VATS left lung 11/2013
NED 11/22/13 to 12/18/2019, CEA<1

DarknessEmbraced
Posts: 3816
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: Brain metastasis

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Tue Aug 14, 2018 6:04 pm

I'm so very sorry!*hugs*
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)

bitchslapped
Posts: 1538
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2014 3:23 pm
Location: PNW/USA

Re: Brain metastasis

Postby bitchslapped » Tue Aug 14, 2018 10:00 pm

Devastating news, but good, valid points by juliej. There is always hope no matter what gets thrown in your path.
Let us know when the docs come up w/a plan. As Lee said, there have been a few on the forum w/brain metastisis, however the tx President Jimmy Carter had was certainly news making.

Best Wishes
BS
DSS,35YO,unresect mCRC DX 7/'14,lvr,LN,peri,rib
FOLFOX+Avstn 4 Rnds d/c 10/'14
Stent 9/'14
FOLFIRI+Avstn 10/'14
Gone From My Sight 2/20/15
Me:garden variety polyps + precancerous polyp, diverticulitis
Carergver x2 DH,DM dbl occupancy,'03-'10
DH dx 47YO mCRC,'04-'07, lvr, billiary tree fried x HAI
DM dx CC 85YO,CC,CHF,stroke,dementia,aphasia

crazylife
Posts: 256
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2015 11:29 am

Re: Brain metastasis

Postby crazylife » Wed Aug 15, 2018 9:17 am

Thanks for all the support everyone ❤️ JulieJ and everyone.

They also found a met on his spine and hip. So brain surgery tomorrow followed by hip replacement next week. The spine met will be hit with radiation. Amazingly all organs are clear.

The doctors at MSK truly amaze me. It was like no sweat, we can get this all out and send him on his way.
Wife to DH, 41 years old, diagnosed 11/15
Stage 4, Mod diff, 13/24 LN, 1 liver met
Colon/liver resection at MSK, 11/15
8mm lung met (not confirmed) and enlarged lymph nodes 1/16
12 rounds of folfox (9 with Oxi) 6/16
NED - July 2016
NED - October 2016
3 lung mets - March 2017
7 lung mets, May 2017
RFA to largest met, June 2017
Lung mets growing slowly, October 2017 (off treatment since June 2016)
Right lung surgery, November 2017
Left lung surgery, January 2018
NED - May 2018

NCMike12
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2018 8:58 pm
Facebook Username: Mike Wright

Re: Brain metastasis

Postby NCMike12 » Wed Aug 15, 2018 3:20 pm

Was just diagnosed in July with colon and rectal cancer and lymph nodes positive. After cat scan, then pet to see lymph nodes, they noticed a light up at bridge on nose which barely showed the very bottom of brain tumor last week. Cancer had spread and had an MRI on my head Monday and at Neuro today. So I have to have brain surgery next week, then chemo and radiation, then deal with surgery for colon and rectum... This has all happened within a month, so my head is spinning..

So good luck, I know the feeling.. Scary! Didn't expect this at 46 years old.. Miur-Torre lynch syndrome runs in family and I was lucky enough to get it...

User avatar
juliej
Posts: 3114
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 12:59 pm

Re: Brain metastasis

Postby juliej » Wed Aug 15, 2018 4:50 pm

crazylife wrote:Thanks for all the support everyone ❤️ JulieJ and everyone.

They also found a met on his spine and hip. So brain surgery tomorrow followed by hip replacement next week. The spine met will be hit with radiation. Amazingly all organs are clear.

The doctors at MSK truly amaze me. It was like no sweat, we can get this all out and send him on his way.

It all starts with a good plan and the MSK docs are excellent in that area. Nothing seems to phase them. Not only are they brilliant, but they have seen just about everything you can imagine. So, hell yeah, let's get that crap out of him and move on, please!

Sending strength, good thoughts, and tons of healing energy for the surgery! Let us know how things are going when you have time.

xo,
Juliej
Stage IVb, liver/lung mets 8/4/2010
Xelox+Avastin 8/18/10 to 10/21/2011
LAR, liver resec, HAI pump 11/2011
Adjuvant Irinotecan + FUDR
Double lung surgery + ileo reversal 2/2012
Adjuvant FUDR + Xeloda
VATS rt. lung 12/2012 - benign granuloma!
VATS left lung 11/2013
NED 11/22/13 to 12/18/2019, CEA<1

stu
Posts: 1613
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2013 5:46 pm

Re: Brain metastasis

Postby stu » Wed Aug 15, 2018 5:07 pm

Jings they move fast . In a few weeks time he will just have the spinal met and some physio for his hip to attend to .
May it all go smoothly and looking forward to hearing he is safely through it all .

Much love Stu
supporter to my mum who lives a great life despite a difficult diagnosis
stage4 2009 significant spread to liver
2010 colon /liver resection
chemo following recurrence
73% of liver removed
enjoying life treatment free
2016 lung resection
Oct 2017 nice clear scan . Two lung nodules disappeared
Oct 2018. Another clear scan .

Caat55
Posts: 694
Joined: Sat Dec 23, 2017 6:01 pm

Re: Brain metastasis

Postby Caat55 » Wed Aug 15, 2018 10:04 pm

Good luck with surgery, radiation. In my thoughts and prayers.

Susan
Do at 55 y.o. Female
Dx 9/26/17 RC Stage 3
Completed 33 rad. tx, xeolda 12/8/17
MRI and PET 1/18 sign. regression
Surgery 1/31/18 Ileostomy, clean margins, no lymph node involved
Port 3/1/2018
Oxaliplatin and Xeloda start 3/22/18
Last Oxaliplatin 7/5/18, 5 rounds
CT NED 9/2018
PET NED 12/18
Clear Colonoscopy 2/19, 5/20

AppleTree
Posts: 267
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2016 8:16 am

Re: Brain metastasis

Postby AppleTree » Fri Aug 17, 2018 4:56 am

I am so happy you are at MSK. They put a plan in place quickly. I am sorry this happened. I told my oncologist this winter that I was having headaches and she put me in the machine. No Mets. Probably the most expensive headache ever! I just needed pain med, not time released due to my runs.
Thinking of you guys.
Diag Feb 5, 2016 Age 45
3 cm tumor 5 cm from verge
Radiation + Xeloda pills - 3000mg 5x week
3/14 - 4/16 - 25 sessions
Shrank just over 50% L nodes 0/13
Remove rectum with temp Ileo 6/17
Reversal 7/20 due to infection
Acute hepatitis August. Chemo cancelled
June to September 2016 - 58 days in hospital

2017
6/16, MRI shadow in lung
Pet - 6.6mm Met in Upper R lobe
7/30 VAT surgery Mass General/Boston
8/24 port
8/30 - 4/28 Folfox. 12 rounds
2018
June CT shows new lung Mets.
July/Oct PETs...CLEAR!


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