Brain metastasis

[Ina3]

Hi everyone.

Want to find out, what are the chances of brain metastasis spreading more if the actual lung cancer is regressing?

My dad’s last PET showed that his cancer is regressing but when he did an MRI on his brain , doctors said that they see a new metastasis. Doctors asked to redo the MRI since looks like my dad was moving his head during the last MRI and they could not see the real picture.

I hope that the picture will be better after the second MRI.

I thought the chemo and immunotherapy that he is doing is helping on brain metastasis too but after my research looks like not much.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

It’s possible for treatments to put cancer into NED in the body yet have or develop brain mets. Everyone responds differently to treatment.

I send hope that the re-scan shows no evidence of disease.

[Lovey1000 in reply to Denzie]

I was found with a 3 cm liaison they did brain surgery with 5 days of radiation on the spot they removed the tumor then 3 months later did a mri and found a .5 mm tiny abnormal tumor and I am going to my last 5 day treatment radiation Monday that would complete 5 days. I hope there isn’t anymore cells in my brain since my lung nsclc is so far negative in my 90 ct scans. I have a pet scan follow up called a surveillance scan to make sure I’m NED. I feel great and lung specialist said I’m not eligible for Keytruda he said no data that’s saying I’m ready for that I don’t know if that’s a good thing or bad but both my oncologists say I don’t need chemo or Keytruda. I guess I wait till another tumor comes back? I wonder if they always come back....ugggh common Denzil give me some of your perk up knowledge, I look forward to hear what u r saying all the time lol

[lyzrockgirl1]

I know the chemo can’t pass through the blood brain barrier. Though I heard that immunotherapy can. You should ask his oncologist. What type of cancer does your dad have? My father had small cell lung cancer and got Mets in the brain. He had to get whole brain radiation and I wish he never did, it messed him up. The radiation caused 2 strokes which caused brain damaged. He was 80 years old when he got brain radiation I would not recommend that to anyone of that age (but we are all react different I understand). My father fought a good fight and he passed away Jan 3, 2019. I know the immune therapy clinical trial he was on helped his cancer in his body (with the help of chemo, he had both). I wish he opted out of the brain radiation to see if the immune therapy would of worked on his mets, unfortunately he didn’t. I am glad you are doing research and I hope you can find the answers. I know that it’s still new territory for doctors for new drugs passing through the blood brain barrier but it should be known if it works soon. Sending you prayers and hope you get answers!

[Ina3 in reply to lyzrockgirl1]

lyzrockgirl1 thank you for your response and sorry for you dad. My dad also has small cell lung cancer and he is on chemo and immunotherapy now (keyrtruda). I did not know that the radiation could cause a stroke. He already did one in September and hope he won’t need more. Everything will be clear after his MRI and since he is on immunotherapy I will try to delay it. Thanks again.

[lyzrockgirl1 in reply to Ina3]

Sorry for the delay and I am praying for you dad. I hope his treatments are a success. Please let me know how he heals? Please email anytime at [e-mail]. I will talk to you about anything you would like to know.

[ThePurplePlace]

Unfortunately, It is possible for the lung cancer to be improving, but brain mets to possibly develop at the same time.

Not all Lung cancer treatments cross the brain blood barrier.

Having a new MRI will provide the best answer.

Best wishes,

Lisa

[Esthersm in reply to ThePurplePlace]

I am a stage 4 metastatic brain x 2 , w craniotomy , radiation & alvastin infusion .So both my lung & brain are stable . Diagnosed since 2012 Feb .

[Ina3 in reply to Esthersm]

Esthersm , thank you for your response. Have you also done chemotherapy and immunotherapy together with Alvastin infusion? Did you get any side effects from the infusion.

Doctors say that old cancer cells are almost gone but there are new ones in brain as well as in lungs. They decided to switch the chemo and give Pemetrexed now.

[Esthersm in reply to Ina3]

I was on Tarceva,no chemo infusion while I was receiving Avastine.No immunotherapy.

[Lovey1000 in reply to ThePurplePlace]

I have 1/2cm liaison that I’m doing 5 days of radiation to kill it. Sept 6th I had a 3cm tumor in the brain and I had brain surgery to remove it and did 5 days radiation and after 2 months I have this one 1/2 cm tiny. Friday I’m done and my last cat scan in nov was NED in my body. I have a pet scan it’s been 3 months since last scan so they want to make sure. New treatments and possible cures for stage 4 stability for long life spans are here and possible by being monitored god bless and prayers for all

[Lovey1000 in reply to Lovey1000]

Oh I forgot I have nsclc with a right upper and middle lobectmy with 2 lymph nodes in the middle of my chest removed 6 months chemo and 6 weeks of radiation after surgery

[Lovey1000 in reply to Lovey1000]

Also question? My body aches like arthritis in my elbows and knee caps what is this pain from, I was told from the previous chemo and radiation

[Esthersm in reply to Lovey1000]

Maybe the side effects? I had pain & aches on my thigh muscles knees as well as back.i went to have physiotherapy, it improved 80% , so I just get used as normal , besides I ‘m getting older,walking

and eat , eat ,eat

[Jenniferroseolson]

I had excellent response to chemo and yet found brain Mets around a year after initial NSCLC diagnosis...lesions were not visible at initial diagnosis, but as others here have stated, chemo cannot cross the blood brain barrier. My neuro-oncologist said there is a chance-though they are not certain, that my craniotomy to remove a large lesion could potentially disrupt that blood brain barrier to allow chemo to work somewhat for the brain, but 2 new lesions have been found subsequently. I’m sorry to not have better “news” of my own experience and understanding. Best wishes

Jennifer

[Esthersm in reply to Jenniferroseolson]

I had craniotomy following Cyberknife , taking Tarceva . After 3 1/2 yrs had recurrent brain met , again Cyberknife, For 9 months MRI repeated showed a big shadow( looked like tumor), PET scan showed no activity on my brain . Avastine was infused , few months later, MRI showed clear image. So far I’m still good ( diagnosed Feb 2012).on minimum dose Tarceva and wait till the next CT & MRI.

Hope you have the energy to deal with your activities. I also taking some vitamins referring by a alternative Dr at the Cancer center.

[Ina3 in reply to Esthersm]

Esthersm , can you please share what vitamins are you taking? That is smth that I want my dad to start but I dont want to blindly choose one. Doctors in my country dont say anything. Thanks.

[Esthersm in reply to Ina3]

Metagenics- PhytoMulti Dietary supplement for practitioner exclusive

I get this at my cancer center pharmacy

[Lovey1000 in reply to Jenniferroseolson]

I had a brain tumor removed after lung cancer taken out surgery and lypmpg nodes also affected and removed then 4 mo later And after 6 mo chemo and 30 radiation shots they removed the tumor then 5 days radiation after brain surgery....my very next 2 month mri showed a 0.5 cm so basically a tony 5 mm met or abnormality they got me for 5 days of radiation again, today my 5th day I’m done now I’m weaning myself off steroids next 6 days. I feel great and I plan on getting checked when advised, feb 28th my surveillance pet scan year follow up to make sure NED. And all I can do is watch my mri one at a time, I just lost my beautiful mother to lymphoma of the brain at 86 years old and she suffered for a year to god decided it was time. I suffer from loss and from being scared that this might take my life but life is for the living and that’s what I plan on doing, I’m 57 and I’m a manager of a crew for AT&T 22 years in the business and I’m a boss lady so I’m hanging in there. I wish and

Pray the cures are coming and we will beat the this bs called cancer!!!!

[thila1]

ask your onc! i am egr positive and was on afatinib for 8 monhhs and was almost declared ned just before i got brain mets and had a bleeding stroke. i knew it was coming since afatinib does not cross th blood brain barrier. at the time i was diagnosed in feb last year tagrisso was not approved as firstline treatment. it is now and in fact i was put on it since my recent progression. i will get a scan in few weeks to see how well it is working pn mt in conjunction with the whole brain radiation i just got. i suggest that you ask for an mri every six months at least. i just had a slight headache before i had the stroke and was diadnosed with lepto. thank goodness i am doing pl on rehsb but wished i had my mri done at 6 months after initial diadnosis and maybe could have avoided the stroke if i could have been put on tagrisso earlier since it does cross the blood brain barrier in egfr pos patients. no one should have to wait for symptoms brfore getting a brain mri. might have to fight insurance though don't like to be an alarmist but better safe than sorry.

[Ina3]

Thank you everyone for your responses.

My dad did an MRI and PET and looks like while original tumor has shrinked a lot, new ones came out. Doctors said that they are small but still. He just did radiotherapy on brain and doctor decides to change Carboplatin with Petetrexed and added Cisplatin even though she was not sure if It would help. And she also added Dexamethasone. He also does Keytruda every 3 weeks. I am so dissapointed that we pay so much in Keyrtruda and it does not seem to do much? Has anyone did Cisplatin and Dexamethasone? I feel like asking my dad not doing it if doctor was not sure that it would help.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to Ina3]

Cisplatin is carboplatin’s big, older sister. It is slightly more effective but has somewhat harsher side effects. Keep an eye on her hydration and make sure she uses her stool softeners. If she develops ringing in the ears or a cold burning sensation or needles and pins in her hand and feet let the infusion nurse or your oncologist’s nurse know do they can adjust the dosage to prevent permanent damage.

Again, use plastic utensils to eat, lemon drops to help with metallic taste between meals, a sports type drink once a day to maintain electrolyte levels flushed by the increased fluid intake. Do not forget to push fluid intake to flush the chemotherapy from the kidneys to prevent build up of the drugs and damage to the kidneys.

[Ina3 in reply to Denzie]

Denzie thank you for your response. It scared me a little since with carboplatin he did not have much side effects and tolartws well and we did not have to do all these. Does it mean that with Ciolatin we should expect worse? Thanks again.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to Ina3]

If he takes the steroids they give to help with side effects he’ll do fine. My biggest complaint was fatigue and the metallic taste. I didn’t lose all my hair either. He’ll do well.

[Ina3 in reply to Denzie]

One more question please: the doctor also added Dexamethazone together with Cisplatin. Do you think its a good combination?

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to Ina3]

Yes, very much a good thing. It will help control the nausea. It may cause your dad to be angry or short tempered. Don’t take it personal. If he doesn’t take it he will be very sick.