Maria C

Thrilled to hear this news about your son, Kerri! So so happy for both of you.

Hi there – so sorry your husband is dealing with this, but I too have had 2 (out of 5 brain mets total) bleed after gamma knife. Both bleeds led to craniotomies, and they were back-to-back (June & July of 2016). I am now on pembro for maintenance and all has been stable since last August.

Sounds like your husband's surgeries were even closer than mine?! I was a lunatic in the hospital after my second, based on being pumped up by so many steroids…how was your husband after his second surgery?

Janis, thank you for sharing. My case is not as complicated as your husband's at the moment, but I too am on pembro and it's definitely stabilizing things for me. I will post my update soon, just catching up as I haven't been on the boards for awhile (which is a good thing). One thing is clear: Shane is blessed to have Shaneswife!

So very sorry to hear this news, Maria, for you, your son, and every weary warrior on this board. My heart and prayers are with you and your family.

Thrilled to hear Jen!! I've followed your dad's story as I battled with brain mets and craniotomies all last summer. I've been clear for 6 months, my hair's mosly all grown back, and I'm back to work full-time. Miracles happen!! I'm thrilled for you, your dad & your family!

Hi Julie – so glad for your good news, and so good to hear from you!

Fabulous Aaron – from 20+ to 2, how much better can you do?!  Thanks so much for sharing your extradordinary news!!

Hi Jenn, my son's birthday is Saturday too 🙂 A great day to celebrate, to be sure!

Congratulations on your good news and I hope you get to spend your entire birthday without a thought about melanoma, these boards, etc. Definitely toast your day "off" from worries!!

Hi Jenn, my son's birthday is Saturday too 🙂 A great day to celebrate, to be sure!

Congratulations on your good news and I hope you get to spend your entire birthday without a thought about melanoma, these boards, etc. Definitely toast your day "off" from worries!!

Hi Jenn, my son's birthday is Saturday too 🙂 A great day to celebrate, to be sure!

Congratulations on your good news and I hope you get to spend your entire birthday without a thought about melanoma, these boards, etc. Definitely toast your day "off" from worries!!

Judy, I am so sorry and sad to hear this news about your husband. I join the others in praying for the miracle of keytruda to kick in. Please know this virtual community is very real for both patients and caregivers. We are here for you and send all the positive energy we can your way.

Hi there – sorry for the delay in responding. I do not have tumors elsewhere, for some strange reason my mets gravitated to my brain only. I did not take temodor, just the ipi/nivo and now pembro as maintenance.

But it really took a lot to get those 5 brain mets stablized. Last time this year I would find myself calling my husband crying because I found myself in the parking lot of the cancer center but didn't know where I was. Another time I couldn't move my right foot down on the break to stop my car – I had to use my left foot and pull into a neighbor's driveway, then call my husband and son to get me. It was super scary.

But now I'm fine. Totally, totally fine. And my husband was right by my side all the way, up and down and all around…

Hang in…

Thanks so much for dropping in and sharing!! Just what I needed to hear too – the voices of fellow brain met survivors! May I ask when your last gamma knife and craniotomy treatments were?