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← Return to Immunotherapy to start if scan shows shrinkage of SCLC cells
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Immunotherapy to start if scan shows shrinkage of SCLC cells
Lung Cancer | Last Active: Feb 15 10:32am | Replies (13)Comment receiving replies
@ohiogal8860 Speaking only from my personal experience (I have small cell lung cancer), I first had a round of whole-brain radiation and then an MRI two months latter. That revealed one very small lesion that the first round had not taken care of. The doctors then delivered a high, precisely targeted dose to that lesion. Two months later, I had another MRI that showed the targeted dose had taken care of the lesion, but another lesion had developed in a different area. I went back for another high, precisely targeted dose and am awaiting my next MRI to see where things stand. My radiation oncologist says the effects of radiation continue working for about two months after treatment so they do the next MRI after two months. Again, in my experience, I only get a repeat MRI if new cancer shows up that must be treated. Then after the treatment, I'll get another MRI two months later to verify the effectiveness of the treatment. I wouldn't think your husband would get more radiation unless more cancer shows up on the MRI. Because of the potential side effects, in my experience they are very careful about using radiation on the brain.
Replies to "@ohiogal8860 Speaking only from my personal experience (I have small cell lung cancer), I first had..."
@larryd287 ,
Thank you for sharing. My husband had 2 brain MRIs since his treatment started, the last being a week ago. Neither of them showed brain Mets but his oncologist said that with SCLC, Mets to the brain is common after chemo stops and so prophylactic brain irradiation drops the percentage down to 14% from 60. However, he said 5 consecutive days of radiation and when we met with the radiation oncologist yesterday, he said 10 treatments. He said memory loss is most common side effect that doesn’t necessarily come back. He wants him to take a med that is given to Alzheimer’s patients that’s shown to improve memory. I’ve read to see if this was standard of care and it is. It is also controversial because of memory loss. Some studies show if avoid the memory center in the brain, the Mets finds its way to that area anyways and can choose tight surveillance but chances of Mets is very high and stroke and or seizures could be possibilities. My husband wants to fight this enemy but seems in a dilemma with screwing with his brain if no need right now. I can’t tell him what to do. I could be wrong. I am going to have to look up this Tagrisso. He has him on Tecentriq for immunotherapy.
God bless as you too battle this disease.
Donna
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@larryd287 I agree. I get MRIs every 3 months to rule out new Mets. So far I’ve only had one to the brain but they keep checking as surveillance. I’m on Tagrisso daily which is extremely effective at crossing the blood-brain barrier. I’ve had no brain Mets since being on Tagrisso.