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Brain Tumors/Brain tumor in renal transplant patient

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Expert: - 2/21/2009


Question
My father in law has just had a grade 3 or 4 (waiting for pathology) tumor removed from the frontal lobe.  To compound things he is a type 1 diabetic that had a kidney transplant 10 years ago as a result of the diabetes.

I seem to understand that grade 3 and 4 are terminal and will return.  I am concerned in terms of his quality of life.  What effects do you know of will chemo have on his kidney?  

As his family we are concerned that his fight with cancer will put him in renal failure which we know from experience can/will be much worse than the outcome of the cancer.  Thank you for your help.

Answer
A grade 3 to 4 malignant brain tumor is indeed at present fatal even with full therapy (surgery, radiation therapy & chemotherapy). The only difference is that a grade 3 patient may live somewhat longer (up to around 2 years or so after primary treatment) while a grade 4 only will live around one year or a little longer after that. So his problem here is not so much his renal situation as his brain tumor. Unfortunately the outcome is at present unavoidable regardless of whatever is done. I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!

Brain Tumors

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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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