Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 4/8/2008

Question
Hi,

My mom has been diagnosed with a grade 2 atrocytoma.She completed 32 rounds of radiation. Six months after radiation, she had her first MRI last week. The MRI showed the tumor was stable(it was the same size as before), but the doc said that he is worried about the diffused tentacles.He hoped that the radiation would kill these tentacles, but it did not.He said that these tentacles might not harm or they might in future, and nothing can be done about it..not eevn chemotherapy.He said the tentacles have not damaged any of the brain nerves yet, but cant say they might in future and that will be critical.

Is chemotherapy a no option in this situation? The doc said in order to go for chemotherapy he needs to know where the tentacles are diffused and that is very difficult to determine..so he says chemotherapy is not a good option

Please advise..

Pallavi


Answer
I agree with her dr. that chemo therapy at the moment is not much of an option though not for the same reasons. As I see it that therapy right now would not help the patient much but cause unnecessary and tough side effects. This is according to your question a grade 2 tumor. Such tumors grow slowly and patients may survive for many years with them. I think her radiation therapy is sufficient at the moment. I presume that surgery was not technically possible?