Whole brain radation pros and cons

[Vchumney]

Looking at whole brain radation for brain mets. Too many for the gamma knife they say .

I would love to hear if it worked , and how many side effects. I'm 55 years old with stage 4 lung cancer. just started Opdivo but doctor says I need this procedure as well . Infinzi was denied by insurance unfortunately.

I had 8 chemo and 30 lung radation sessions and tolerated both well.

Thanks all !

[ElmerFudd314]

I'm 69 with nsc lung cancer. Was having headaches in 2017. MRI in Nov showed mets. Bone and lung biopsy showed g 4 nsc lc. Started with 5 straight days of whole head and gamma knife radiation in Dec 2017. No side effects except 2 weeks later my hair started to fall out in clumps. Seemed to cure the headaches though. No cognitive problems. 2 pet scans showing improvement after 6 chemo cycles and now I'm on maintenance chemo.

[Vchumney in reply to ElmerFudd314]

Great to hear , I'm very concerned about this procedure as you can probably tell , I'm trying to work as long as possible. Wishing you continued postive health !

Thank you !

[LemonDropsDreamToo in reply to ElmerFudd314]

Hi ElmerFudd314,

May I ask what hospital you are under? My mum has recently been diagnoised with lunch cancer Jan 23rd, and on March 14th she was told she has brain mets, treatment started last monday, chemo every 3 weeks, as much as I appreciate every person is different in regards to treatment I have asked about cyberknife radiotherapy and have been told it can be something mum can have but after chemo? I dont know if I am being fobbed off.

[ElmerFudd314 in reply to LemonDropsDreamToo]

You are probably in the UK I bet. I am in Minneapolis, Minnesota and go to the veterans hospital. They are great but you have to be a veteran with service connected problem.

[ElmerFudd314 in reply to LemonDropsDreamToo]

Not familiar with the term fobbed off. I did well with cyber knife then chemo.

[Pandora8205]

I have had whole brain radiation no side effects thanks goodness. Radiation to the brain is scary always wonder if they will be able to clear tumors and not hit anything severe.its my only course of action getting them when they are little I get MRI every 3 months for the past 3 years never a clear scan always catching the little ones. Would love a clear scan. I think brain scarier than the body tumors. 54 years old stage 4 ncsc lung cancer brain and bone cancer I will always be fighting this battle.

[Vchumney in reply to Pandora8205]

Thanks so much for your reply, I really appreciate it.

My doctors were in agreement that I could not wait as the brain mets are mutiplying and growing rapidly. I started the whole brain therapy for 15 sessions last week and so far overwhelming fatigue.

But we battle on of course.

Continued success with your journey .

Val

[Presley11]

I was getting ready to that but I still had lung cancer , my gp told me to hold off , until all the cancer was gone, did you go back home