Brain mets.

[Palpman]

Has anyone here survived 3 months after radiotherapy on a NSCLC met to the brain?

I'm concerned with my wife's prognosis as she has memory problems.

[Bow-19]

I had SRS targeted radiotherapy to two brain mets in January 2018. Then due to progression one retreated with SRS in January this year. I now have regular 3 monthly MR scans to monitor what is going on in my brain. I am also on a targeted therapy drug called brigatinib which is specific to the NSCLC with ALK mutation which I have.

Have you mentioned to your wife’s Dr about the specific problems your wife is having with her memory? It might be worth letting them know so they can give their opinion as to the cause.

Wishing you both all the best x

[Elt79 in reply to Bow-19]

Hi - I had SRS in 2018 to 2 brain mets then again in Feb 2020 when small regrowth. Has 3 monthly scans till May 2022 - now annual scans. My original diagnosis in Oct 2018 was Stage IV NSCLC with brain and adrenal mets. Nearly 4 years in and living well . Wishing your wife positive outcome x

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

HI Palpman

Sorry to hear about your wife's cancer, and as Bow-19 has said, if the memory loss is a new thing or has got worse, it would be advisable to let the oncology team know so she can be reassessed.

Everyone responds differently to cancer treatment and hope your wife will do well on her radiotherapy.

This link will take you directly to our booklet on Brain Metastases: roycastle.org/app/uploads/2...

If there is anything else you would like to discuss you can email ask the nurse at [e-mail] or call our free phone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200 Monday to Thursday 0900-1700 and Friday 0900-1600

Kind regards

The Roy Castle Support Team

[Palpman]

Thank you for all the replies. I feel more confident after reading them.

She has an appointment with her oncologist next Friday and an MRI the following Monday.

Hopefully if it is a brain met it will be treatable. We do have a LINAC Machine at our local cancer centre.

[sassassas in reply to Palpman]

Wishing you both well, Palpman xx

[Denzie]

An early mentor and supporter in my lung cancer treatment was diagnosed with his stage 4 lung cancer because of his brain mets. He was one of the earliest patients to receive stereo stereotactic brain radiation. He them treated again 2 years late and went on to live 17 years from the time of his original diagnosis.

[Palpman]

The MRI scan sadly showed the brain mets.

She is now on end of life care at home.

I am going through an angry stage now because her lung cancer scan showed that it was in remission and she was her normal self again.

No brain scans were done after the initial one 9 months ago and none after the all remission lung scan.

Had they done the head scan after her lung treatment then it would have been picked up.

We are devastated and angry.

[sassassas]

I'm so sorry to hear this Palpman and I'm thinking of you both.

Sarah x

[Palpman]

Sadly my beloved wife passed 10 days after the diagnosis.

She was fit enough to travel by 4 busses to and from the hospital 11 days prior. It was a shock to me.