Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 5/3/2008

Question
Hello,
My mom was diagnosed with Astrocytoma grade 2 last may 2007.She is 65 years old and her tumor is inoperable.She finished 32 rouinds of radiations in aug 2007,her first MRI after six months showed the tumor stable, but the doc said that he was worried about the diffused tentacles.After a week or so, my mom has swollen right hand fingers(Just the fingers). The tumor is on the left temporal lobe.When we asked the doc about this swelling he told us that this was not a good sign and that she could be paralysed,in few days.My question,

1) The swelling has reduced a little bit since yesterday(The swelling is just on her right hand fingers), will the sweeling progress slowly everywhere?.Is the swelling a sign of paralysis? Will she become paralysed? If yes what should I expect in future? Is the swelling because of the steroid that she takes to avoid seizures?

2) Will chemotherapy work in her case? OUr doc has ruled out chemotherapy,he told us that chemotherapy wont work in her case.

3) At present she is able to walk..talk..eat well(though not sufficient)...should we seek m ore opinions from other doc if she can get operated or is it too late?

Thankyou,

Pallavi

Answer
1. I think you must have misunderstood her dr. Yes the swelling MAY be a serious sign (for example of a blood clot - though since she is now better probably not) but most probably NOT directly related to her brain tumor. So I do not think it will progress or that it will cause her to be paralyzed. I doubt if it has anything to do with her steroids. A grade 2 brain tumor is usually slowly growing. So she can and may live for years with this.
2. Probably not.
3. If her dr. has told you it is inoperable, then that is probably the case. Though it is never wrong to ask for a second opinion.