Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 8/10/2008

Question
My sister 23 has just been diagnosed with Anaplastic astrocytoma WHO grade 3 can you explain what this means and what the life expectancy is? They say it is located in an area of the thalamus which is unoperable.However she seems to be too healthy and we are thinking of looking for a second opinion, can you educate me on this diagnosis and advise me on the steps that you would take if this was your family memeber? All help/advice welcome - as no treatment has started yet. Gratefully Sheena

Answer
I'm sorry to read about her - and your - problems! Unfortunately these patients early on rarely have general symptoms so they seem much healthier than they are in reality. It is never wrong to ask for a second opinion but if her diagnosis is correct her situation is indeed serious. Thalamic brain tumors in general are inoperable. That means that only radiation therapy and chemo therapy remain as treatments. That is however not of much importance. Her prognosis would be the same even if surgery was possible. Survival time in malignant brain tumor cases largely depends on the grade of the tumor running from 1 (best) to 4 (worst). These tumors are in principle at present all incurable and eventually fatal. In a grade 3 case like here with treatment survival time can usually be expected to be around a couple of years or somewhat more - but not MUCH more unfortunately. Treatment can only at present slow the process down to some extent, that is all. And that effect has been considered in this evaluation. I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!