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 10 yr old niece was diagnosed in May 2008 with inoperable anaplastic astrocytoma of the thalamus. In May of 2009 after radiation and Tarceva therapy, the tumor is growing and has spread to the brain stem. They gave her 6 to 8 weeks to live. It's been 6 weeks and it's strange how things have progressed. The first two weeks she was sleeping 15-20 hrs a day, was completely withdrawn and non interactive. She was put on 4 mg daily of dexamethazone and somewhat perked up but was hungry all the time and couldn't sleep. They reduced the steroids to 2mg daily and now she's awake more, although sleeps fine at nite with only one nap a day (2 to 3 hours) and sometimes no nap at all. She has a good appetite, has more energy and is comletely interactive. She does, however, have more confusion and memory loss and her body is weak but nueroligally has not changed since intitial diagnosis, except for the fact that she's mostly incontinent now, where she wasn't before. We are completely confused...the Dexamethezone is the only meds she's on and it seems like she's kind getting better as far as energy goes. We keep expecting to see pressure issues or drastic fatigue and other symptoms, but right now it's been this 3 week stent of stability. Do you have any insight on this? I read somewhere the sometime when someone is dying the get a burst of energy caused by brain swelling, but it's usually a few days to hrs before death. This doen't seem like the same thing sice it's lasting so long. just really confused and afraid to be hopeful. Thanks.
Answer Unfortunately there is no reason to be hopeful. This may be due to a stronger than usual anti swelling effect of her steroid medication & side effects of the same medication. Steroids are used in order to reduce brain swelling. And they may boost a burst of energy. However sooner or later - unfortunately probably sooner - the growth of her tumor will take its toll. I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!
