Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 2/25/2009

Question
My borther was diagnosed with this cancer in Dec.2008. He had a melonoma remove from his upper leg in 2006.  He has nodules in his stomach, lungs, and now, 12 spots in his brain.  He took Temador for 3 months with no results.  Tomorrow they want to start some radiation treatments on his brain.  I have great respect for his oncologist but he doesn't address us easily with a time frame.  My bother lives with his wife and I am worried about her being by herself and something happening. I would like to have a better understanding of his time so that I can make arrangements to stay for awhile, which I really want to be there with him.  He is also a severve diabetic with 1 leg which limits alot more and have recently told him not to drive any more.  Can you get a feel for his time?  I really don't understand why they are trying addtional treatment but with a miracle, you never know.  Thanks

Answer
If it is conventional radiation therapy that he will receive I doubt that it will be very effective since melanomas are usually not very sensitive to such radiation therapy or to chemotherapy.  Unfortunately his remaining time when his tumor has spread to his brain can probably be measured in months or even shorter, but it is difficult to be precise.

Well, sorry for not being up to your expectations but I'm an MD not a fortune teller. NO ONE can tell you precisely how long a time to expect and that is what you asked for and which I answered as much as it is at all possible to do! That he should not drive you already know. So why the bad notes?