Stage IV, with new found tumor in brain (HER2 as well)

jaycc
jaycc Member Posts: 122
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Posting for another. If anyone has had similar can they respond, thx.

My husband was diagnosised with EC stage IV in Feb. 2012. He has gone through 6weeks of radiation and 26weeks of chemo. He tested positive for HER2 protein and has been on Herceptin also. First Pet scan three months ago came back clean no cancer. We were elated! We stopped everything expect Herceptin and then two weeks ago he started having new symptoms, dizziness, running into doorway and very confused. He had his second scan yesterday and they found a lesion on the left side of his brain. We go back to the Radiologist on Mon and Oncologist on Wed. Just wondering if anyone has gone through the same situation and what the outcome was. I know that God is in control and believe in his healing power. We are keeping the faith!

Comments

  • TerryV
    TerryV Member Posts: 887
    #2
    Prayers are with you!
    Mitch Combs, writing as McCoomb, had a successful cranectomy (spelling?) for a lesion on the back of his skull.

    My husband was not able to undergo surgery for his brain lesions. When the met was found for Nick, it was a single (they thought) mass at the back of his skull. An MRI showed two others - one at the left inner ear, a smaller one at the right. Also a "mist" of smaller tumors across the back of his skull. Our time was short after that.

    Please follow up with Mitch. His outcome from the brain surgery was very favorable and he may have some quality suggestions for you.

    I hope your husband is able to undergo treatment for this met. It would be wonderful to see/hear of a success against this beast.

    Terry
    PROUD wife to Nick, age 49
    lost battle to EC, June 19, 2012
  • goty2001
    goty2001 Member Posts: 71
    #3
    Haven't quite gone through that
    ... I had a similar diagnosis in June and am about half-way through the chemo regime your husband went through (no radiatrion) and recently dropped to just herceptin & xeloda following reasonably good scan .. cancer still there but reduced tumor. I'd never heard of a stage IV cancr disappearing after 6 months chemo - and I'm just wondering if docs have any speculation as to how/why it reappeared in the brain - so far away? Best of luck from here.
  • queen3rjd
    queen3rjd Member Posts: 5
    #4
    TerryV said:

    Prayers are with you!
    Mitch Combs, writing as McCoomb, had a successful cranectomy (spelling?) for a lesion on the back of his skull.

    My husband was not able to undergo surgery for his brain lesions. When the met was found for Nick, it was a single (they thought) mass at the back of his skull. An MRI showed two others - one at the left inner ear, a smaller one at the right. Also a "mist" of smaller tumors across the back of his skull. Our time was short after that.

    Please follow up with Mitch. His outcome from the brain surgery was very favorable and he may have some quality suggestions for you.

    I hope your husband is able to undergo treatment for this met. It would be wonderful to see/hear of a success against this beast.

    Terry
    PROUD wife to Nick, age 49
    lost battle to EC, June 19, 2012

    Thanks for the information
    Hi Terry, I hope you won't mind if I share my story with you.

    I feel like sometimes I am all alone even when people are all around me. The only thing that I am sure of right now is that the Lord is always with me.
    My husbands symptoms started during the holidays in 2011. He would tell me he was having hiccups all the time when he ate. He said he was thinking of going to the dr. Then he said things seemed to be getting caught when he would try to eat. Finally in Feb he went to the dr. and here we are. No surgery options for him. Only chemo and radiation.

    The hardest treatment for my husband was Radiation. Chemo made him tried for two days but radiation was torture. He could not eat for weeks except liquids. I felt so bad for him. He fought all the way through it, never missed a day of work except for his chemo treatment day.

    He had a scan in July. Primary tumor and mets to nodes were gone! He had been on chemo for 28 weeks so they discontinued that and continued on Herceptin alone. After two weeks he was having shortness of breath, dizzy, confused and clumsy. He was scheduled for his Pet on Oct 18th and that is when they saw the tumors on the brain. MRI showed one large tumor and three small. He started whole head radiation Mon. 4 1/2 weeks of that and we will do another MRI. We are believing that all will be clear!

    I sure looks like you have a wonderful family!

    Thanks again,
    Jana
  • TerryV
    TerryV Member Posts: 887
    #5
    goty2001 said:

    Haven't quite gone through that
    ... I had a similar diagnosis in June and am about half-way through the chemo regime your husband went through (no radiatrion) and recently dropped to just herceptin & xeloda following reasonably good scan .. cancer still there but reduced tumor. I'd never heard of a stage IV cancr disappearing after 6 months chemo - and I'm just wondering if docs have any speculation as to how/why it reappeared in the brain - so far away? Best of luck from here.

    Brain mets are not uncommon
    Goty,

    It has been my experience with EC - reading here and elsewhere - that mets to the brain are fairly common with EC. Liver and brain seems to be two common "target areas" of the EC spread.

    Best wishes to you in your battle with EC.

    Terry
    PROUD wife to Nick, age 49
    lost battle to EC, June 19, 2012
  • TerryV
    TerryV Member Posts: 887
    #6
    queen3rjd said:

    Thanks for the information
    Hi Terry, I hope you won't mind if I share my story with you.

    I feel like sometimes I am all alone even when people are all around me. The only thing that I am sure of right now is that the Lord is always with me.
    My husbands symptoms started during the holidays in 2011. He would tell me he was having hiccups all the time when he ate. He said he was thinking of going to the dr. Then he said things seemed to be getting caught when he would try to eat. Finally in Feb he went to the dr. and here we are. No surgery options for him. Only chemo and radiation.

    The hardest treatment for my husband was Radiation. Chemo made him tried for two days but radiation was torture. He could not eat for weeks except liquids. I felt so bad for him. He fought all the way through it, never missed a day of work except for his chemo treatment day.

    He had a scan in July. Primary tumor and mets to nodes were gone! He had been on chemo for 28 weeks so they discontinued that and continued on Herceptin alone. After two weeks he was having shortness of breath, dizzy, confused and clumsy. He was scheduled for his Pet on Oct 18th and that is when they saw the tumors on the brain. MRI showed one large tumor and three small. He started whole head radiation Mon. 4 1/2 weeks of that and we will do another MRI. We are believing that all will be clear!

    I sure looks like you have a wonderful family!

    Thanks again,
    Jana

    Whole Brain Radiation
    Nick was scheduled to undergo 15 sessions of WBR. It was odd really. He "enjoyed" his WBR sessions. Said he could "smell the tumors burning" and felt very optimistic after his sessions. There was also immediate response - improved balance, speech, and mental clarity. I hope you and your husband find the success we had hoped for in the WBR. I know it's possible. Since we didn't get our wish, I hope it comes for you.

    Jana - you and your husband will have a special place in our prayers. I have been where you are and know your hopes and dreams. It is my prayer that your prayers are answered.

    Please keep us posted. Best wishes and many hugs to you both!

    Terry
    PROUD wife to Nick, age 49
    lost EC battle, June 19, 2012

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