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Brain Tumors/melanoma of the brain

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Expert: - 5/25/2009


Question
In Feb of this year my husband had a reoccurrence of melanoma. he had a golf ball size tumor removed from the right side of his brain after it had bled. He also at that time had a tumor on his left scapula, He had 3 weeks of radiation, and then developed multiple Pulmonary Emboli.  He now has a 3 cm tumor in his brain and 2 undiagnosed tumors in his lungs.  His Oncologist wants to wait a month and then repeat the CT scan. I am concerned that waiting a month is wasting time that we could use to treat this. Am I just paranoid?

Answer
No not really. The sad fact is that malignant melanomas usually are not very sensitive to radiation therapy or chemotherapy. So unfortunately your husband's treatment options are very limited and his prognosis - especially since his tumor has spread to his brain - is very bad. 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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