<b>How to Use This Page </b>

This page deals with Brain Metastases.  There is a general discussion, followed by treatment techniques with illustrative annotated citations of medical journal articles, dealing with LMS or sarcoma if possible.  [For further discussion of some of the treatment techniques like Chemotherapy or Radiation, see another section of this website.] 

Should you be interested in a specific technique, abstracts can be highlighted and copied, and then printed out and taken with you to your doctor for further discussion.   Furthermore searches on &&url or on &&url  may provide further information on the technique, and places where it is done, for you and your doctor.   
[ ] will indicate editorial comment by the compiler. Some sentences are highlighted in bold, again chosen by the compiler.



</b>Leiomyosarcoma & Brain Metastases</b>
Metastasis is the spread of cancer. Cancer that begins in other parts of the body may spread to the brain and cause secondary tumors. These tumors are not the same as primary brain tumors. Cancer that spreads to the brain is the same disease and has the same name as the original (primary) cancer. For example, if lung cancer spreads to the brain, the disease is called metastatic lung cancer because the cells in the secondary tumor resemble abnormal lung cells, not abnormal brain cells. 

Treatment for secondary brain tumors depends on the kind of cancer it is, and the extent of the spread as well as other factors, including the patient's age, general health, and response to previous treatment.
While brain metastases were an unusual development in leiomyosarcoma, there is now an increased incidence of brain metastases in sarcoma patients with prolonged survival from chemotherapy. Brain metastases from sarcoma usually occur with or after lung metastasis. Long-term survival is possible with treatment in some patients. [1,2,7,8, 9]


<b>Letter posted to the L-M-Sarcoma Mailing List at ACOR, August 2002</b>

Alfrida,

I am so sorry to hear of your symptoms.  By now, you most likely know the outcome of your MRI.  I just wanted you to know that I had brain mets and had them removed in Dec. 1999.  I lived a full life afterwards and then found last summer that more had returned.  Once again I had brain surgery back in July last year.  Unfortunately, my latest scan showed two more, but this time they are small and I am receiving stereotactic radiosurgery, which is a kind of radiation.  If I have slowed down my activities a bit lately, it is more due to painful tumors in my foot rather than the brain tumors.
I just wanted you to know that I am still out here and fighting.  My heart goes out to you, and hopefully this will not be your diagnosis.  If it is, you can do this.  One step at a time.

Hugs, Maria (New Jersey)
Uterine LMS 29 year survivor.  Surgery, radiation.
Next occurrence 21 years later, 1994.  Lung VAT procedure.
Next occurrence 5 years later, 1999, brain.  3 chemos.
Many mets, several surgeries.  Radiation presently.
