Brain Tumors/GBM

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Question
When a patient is diagnoses with a primary brain tumor of a grade 4 is it common for them to appear on the outside to be getting better?  At one time they needed to use a walker and no longer do, could not climb stairs and now they can, sleep 14 hours a day and now can sleep 14 hours a day but they next day they only sleep 12 hours, and is gaining weight at the rate of 2-3 pounds a week.  Four dr.s have confirmed this diagnoses so we are sure it is a GBM but I thought as time went on symptoms increased where here it is just the opposite.  Why is this happening and the other question is why would red spots, they look like bruises keep happening only in one hand? Can someone truly get better from a GBM and if not how could all these good things be accounted for?

Answer
After treatment (surgery, radiation therapy & chemotherapy) there is usually a temporary improvement. Such therapy also prolongs survival time. I have no explanation for his bruises or whatever they are.  However so far - if the diagnosis is correct - ALL GBM tumors grae 4 are lethal with a 100% mortality regardless of therapy. Without being able to examine the patient that is all I can tell you at present.

Brain Tumors

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Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.

Expertise

I`m a doctor of medicine and specialist in radiation therapy and medical oncology. I have a long time experience of these tumours.

Experience

I'm a Doctor of Medicine and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation Therapy, educated and trained in Sweden. Now retired. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps. You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128 . I have no restrictions on the number of questions there. I also answer questions about Oncology (General Cancer), General History, Military History, Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer.

Education/Credentials
Doctor of medicine, specialist in medical oncology & radiation therapy.

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