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Brain Tumors/glioblastoma
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Question
A friend of mine was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma. He was also told it was not cancer. Surgery could not remove all the tumor, it will continue to grow. They put seeds of radiation and wafers of chemo in. All the information I have read said glioblastoma was malignant, so I am confused. He had a non-cancerous tumor removed 10 years ago. I cannot find information on stage 4 glioblastoma that is not cancer. Can you provide me with information on this? Thank you.
Glioblastoma (multiforme) is indeed malignant (very much so) but strictly speaking not a cancer (though in many ways it behaves like one). You probably mean a GRADE 4 glioblastoma since brain tumors rarely have stages and glioblastomas hardly ever has it but they do have grades which indicate malignancy and where a grade 4 is the worst = most malignant you can have. These tumors are all incurable and all eventually fatal regardless of treatment. I estimate the survival time in this case even with full treatment (surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy) to be around one year or a little longer. Without treatment considerably shorter. The higher the grade (4 is highest) the shorter the survival time. I do hope this explains it!
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Answers by Expert:
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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