AboutClaes-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. Licensed/certified physician and surgeon and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation therapy in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and the European Union. 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. Now in private practice in Stockholm, Sweden. I also answer questions about Oncology (General Cancer),
General History,
Military History,
Breast Cancer,
Colon Cancer.
Question My mother age 64 has been diagnosed with a stage4, at time of diagnosis it was 5.3cm,she had surgery and very little taken out, 3 weeks later the tumor has grown and she is now started her third week of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, has another 3 weeks radio and 4.5 months of chemo before a 3 month break and then starting again. I need to know of what to expect as time goes by, what symptoms will occur as the tumor gets bigger, eg seizures etc. I would like to look after my mother at home for as long as possible so any information you could give me would be a great help.
Thank you
sarah
Answer I suppose you mean a GRADE 4 as brain tumours normally do not have stages. A grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme case has a very bad prognosis unfortunately - regardless of any therapy. Surgery, radiation therapy & chemotherapy can at most temporarily relieve symptoms and prolong survival somewhat. Survival time even with full treatment is rarely longer than around one year or a little longer after primary treatment. The patient will over time become more and more confused and sleep more and more. There may be stroke like symptoms and even epileptic seizures. When the patient sleeps all the time the end is near. The patient will then drift into a coma and then pass away. There will be little pain - if any. To take care of a patient like this at home will be hard and difficult especially in later stages. I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!
