Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 10/19/2010

Question
My dad was driving to work on March 30th, 2010, when he got a terrible migraine and could hardly see. He drove himself to the hospital. On April 1st i got a call from him, he told me that he had a brain tumor. It was April Fools Day,I thought he was joking.He had surgery a few days later and the doctors removed the mass of the tumor but couldn't get the fingers that were left. They told us that he had stage 4 brain cancer and that he had 6-9 months. He was on radiation for a while, he was on good medicine( it was from some doctor in Houston TX.)He was also on a light dosage of cemo. They ran out of money and he had to start taking Protocell. Can you tell me what that is? Does it work? It is now October and he isn't doing well. His head is swollen, he can't stand for long periods of time, he can't talk long without getting out of breath. Sometimes he can't think or see straight. How long do you think he has? Please and thank you for whatever you can tell me.

Answer
I'm sorry to read about his & your problems! From your description it is probable - if this indeed is a STAGE 4 cancer - that he has a cancer somewhere else that has spread to his brain. If so all what the treatment he has received can do is to slow down the process somewhat and temporarily relieve his symptoms. His prognosis is then VERY bad and his survival time can most probably be measured in months. If on the other hand what he has is a GRADE 4 tumor (such misunderstandings are not unusual) then it is a primary malignant brain tumor and his prognosis is hardly better and the treatment results are the same - that is very bad indeed. His survival time is also around the same. I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!

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