Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 9/26/2008

Question
My Partner 43yr old male, had an initial tumor removed approx 7yrs ago. because of the severity of the operation, a partial loss of balance led to inevitable rehab.
over the yrs has received radio and chemo treatment, and had a successfull operation in january to remove a micro tumor that had developed near to his spinal cord, has been recieving termodal. this seemed to be going fine, until the results of the recent scan, which showed growth of the tumor in his "lille hjerne" now the hospital will not offer further treatment, only cortezone for his legs.
are ther any options ? what about hyperthermia treatment?
any suggestion would be desparately appreciated.

brgds
Stephen Rasmussen

Answer
Dere kan meget godt skrive paa dansk. Jeg aer svensk og kan godt laese dansk! But since you have asked in English I'll not continue in Danish or Swedish but in English. This is obviously - given the long time before the tumour returned - a low grade tumour that grows slowly. But even low grade tumours are malignant though less so than high grade tumours with much shorter survival times. Probably he has received so much radiation over the years that no more - conventional - radiation can be given.  It MAY however perhaps - NOT sure - be possible to treat his new tumour with concentrated gamma rays with a so called GammaKnife. This is NOT certain but at least you should discuss it with his drs. Hyperthermia in a case like this would be so experimental that I can at present not recommend it - if at all possible at present.