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Whole brain radiation for breast cancer: Anyone else?
I have stage 4 breast cancer that’s metastasized to my bones, and I have numerous spots in my brain. Mayo wants to do full brain radiation on me. I’m wondering if anyone here has had it as the side effects are gnarly. Quite concerned about the long-term side effects, which contain short-term memory loss that’s progressive, chronic dizziness, it just goes on and on. Hoping to hear from someone that has had full brain radiation, not gamma knife, not spot treatment but full brain radiation.
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My father had 9 of the planned 27 treatments. When you go into the ER and see your father picking imaginary grapes and calmly asks you if youd like some...well, you can't unsee and unremember that. We discovered, too late, that we knew he was supposed to have targeted zapping, but the cancer center was hitting his entire brain. Its been 19 yrs since I lost my dad, and im still angry. I highly, HIGHLY advise you to go to a Center of Excellence for their opinion AND treatments. Wishing you the very best..
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6 ReactionsI worry about this and the quality of life that I will have after enduring entire brain radiation. Thank you so much for telling me of your experience. I haven’t heard anything good about it 🙁
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1 Reaction@boogz, you're in good hands at Mayo Clinic. I'm tagging a few other members who have experience with brain metastasis and whole brain radiation like @kerynbookeraustralianoosaooooooo @lynnn @eku and others.
When might you begin radiation treatments? How many?
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1 Reaction@boogz I absolutely agree with Colleen. If there is a center that could be described as “center of excellence” it is Mayo. The last time I was in Rochester they were building the brand new state of the art radiation center.
I found at Mayo, that our doctors gave as much information on our choices and the recommended treatments as we asked for.
Has your doctor discussed the probable outcomes of doing or not doing this radiation or a different plan?
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2 Reactions@colleenyoung I possibly could start in a couple weeks and plan was for 10 days of radiation. With repeat scans, we will see what we’re dealing with.
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3 Reactions@auntieoakley those are questions I need to ask.
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1 Reaction@boogz my husband had 10 whole brain radiation treatments in December 2025. He has 44 metastatic brain lesions. Primary cancer is lung but you can’t see it in the lung at all. Go figure. Anyway, he did throw up a few times after the first couple of treatments but that was it. His memory seems ok so far. Best of luck to you!
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8 Reactions@boogz I forgot to mention that they put my husband on a pill called memantine as a preventative to help with possible memory issues.
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