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 son's girlfriend was diagnosed with an astrocytoma when she was 5. Most of it was removed but some remains near the brain stem. She sees a doctor regular to monitor its progress and has some side effects from it such as tremors and poor coordination. I have recently learned they are sexually active and that her mother told her that she could not get pregnant becuase it could kill her with her brain tumor if she was pregnant. While I don't approve of the sexual activity and certainly don't want anyone to get pregnant at this point, I do wonder about the mother's comments. Is it likely that a pregnancy could kill her due to the brain tumor or is this just a scare tactic? The are 18 and 20 years of age and very serious so it is reasonable they could one day marry and I would like to know what effect this may have on them one day having children.
Answer Dear Deanna, I have been a senior chief medical officer of the Royal Guards Regiment (the World's oldest still existing - continuously existing - regiment, founded in 1521 the year Cortez conquered Mexico) and the Royal Household Brigade of the Royal Swedish Army for 15 years. The soldiers were all conscripts doing their National Military Service. They were all 18 to 21 or so of age AND there were also female voluntary soldiers. Most of them (almost all) were not married. But young boys/men being young boys/men and young girls/women being young girls/women all were regularly and routinely handed out condoms (also the girls) so that unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections could be avoided as much as possible. To try to make healthy young people to live a life where they are abstaining from sex is in my opinion about as futile as preaching to the mountain to become flat! Just an impossible exercise! So I think you - and her mother - must accept that your 20 years old son and his 18 years old girl friend (or did I get it wrong and it is the other way around - well it does not matter both are adults) both have the right to their own sex life in a way of their own choice. Sex is normal and natural! Now to the matter at hand. Since his girl friend was treated around 13 years ago if I got the numbers right and is still alive and with us her tumor can not have been very malignant. Malignant brain tumors usually have a very bad prognosis which you can see if you care to read my previous answers here. However I do not know the grade of her tumor but since she is alive it must have been a grade 1 or 2, probably a grade 1 (least dangerous). Had it been a grade 3 or 4 she would be dead by now regardless of treatment. Her prognosis is still uncertain since brain tumors now and then can change grade usually to a higher and worse number. An astrocytoma grade 4 case usually only survive - with full treatment - for a year or so from primary treatment. I know very little - almost nothing - of her particular case so it is hard to comment on any pregnancy risks here though they seem somewhat exaggerated. However it is relevant to ask if someone with a brain tumor with an uncertain future should produce children. I'm happy I do not have to answer that question. If your son and his girl friend should decide to continue their lives together that question must sooner or later be answered by themselves though. I suggest that your son's girl friend should have a very serious talk on her own with her neurologist/neurosurgeon of these matters so that she has the facts necessary for making a decision! Good luck!
Thanks! I'm sorry you were not completely satisfied by my reply. But in order to completely answer your question much more must be known about her case. Only her own dr. has that information. That is why I suggested that she herself should have a frank, open and serious discussion about her case with her dr. Only she herself can have that discussion. For obvious reasons both you and your son are excluded. Unless of course invited in by her herself.
