Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 12/31/2008

Question
QUESTION: What is it like to die from a GBM?  What usually happens to the person?  Does it depend on where the tumor is located?

ANSWER: To some extent yes but the general effects tend to dominate. The patient gets more and more confused over time. There may be stroke like symptoms and even epileptic fits (those symptoms may depend on location). The patient sleeps more and more. Then drifts into a coma and passes away. There is usually little pain if any.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: My husbands latest mri showed a very small area in the right frontal lobe that is indicative of new disease.  His original tumor was on the left frontal lobe and was resected 70.  He did 37 rounds of radiation and 18 months on Temodar.  He has begun to have problems turning to the right, he loses his balance and falls.  I have read so much about this horrible disease and am concerned about the new area.  He has made it almost 2 years and I do realize that this is unusual.  His vision seems to come and go and the mornings seem particularly bad for him.  Is there any way to be prepared for what is coming.  I have to leave him alone to work and am concerned for his safety.  Thank you.

Answer
I think you should discuss his case with his neurosurgeon in a very open & frank way. If this new area IS small (less than an inch in size) it MAY be possible to treat it radiologically with the so called GammaKnife. But I can NOT promise anything unfortunately.