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Brain Tumors/Radiation on Maligant Melanoma

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Expert: - 8/8/2008


Question
My husband was just recently diagnosed with a two brain tumors and has been battling melanoma for two years.  Should he be treated with full brain radiation or the Gamma Knife?  What am I in store for with the % reaccurancy rate?  Many doctors are not giving us any type of %.. Thanks for your time

Answer
How big are his brain tumors? If too big the GammaKnife can not be used. Melanomas are often not very sensitive to conventional radiation therapy, so in principle the GammaKnife should be preferred - if at all possible! But even with the GammaKnife I can not promise a cure. So his prognosis will remain doubtful unfortunately. There is a great risk that new tumors will appear and there is a limit to the usefulness of the GammaKnife even with small tumors. Melanomas are usually also not very sensitive to chemo therapy.

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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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