Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 12/4/2010

Question
Hello Dr.

My best friends wife was diagnose with brain tumor the sized of an egg which was located at the front left lobe. The doctors (Oncologist-Neurosurgeons) performed a craniotomy and they successfully removed 100% of the tumor. Everything leading up until and after the surgery was positive. The family was happy and they though the nightmare was over and it was all about recovery now. Supposedly initially the tumor was benign and she was going to recover and go back to her normal life and go back to work within a month or two. However, a week after her surgery the pathology report came back and she was diagnosed with an Anaplastic Astrocytoma Stage 3. The Oncologist explained there was what they call “tentacles” or “fingers” growing within the brain. The family has been devastated ever since and trying to accept the diagnose one day at a time. It’s truly a nightmare. The Oncologist told them the estimated survival time is around 18 month or 24 months but longer than that might not be probable. They have an 8 year old son and they are currently going to go to family therapy to try to explain to their child what is going to happen in the near future with his mom and help them deal with the outcome as well. The Oncologist will be performing Radiation Therapy for six weeks and they will start one month after her surgery. The Oncologist said Chemotherapy is not necessary because it really won’t do anything at all. Radiation Therapy will prolong her survival time. They are going to go through the Radiation Therapy but they are also going to go to a second and third opinion. They are going to go to Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York and Stanford, CT. They are hoping it was a misdiagnose and that it’s only a stage 1 or stage 2. It will be easier for her to live with knowing the probability of survival can be 10-20-30 years and not 2-3 years.

My questions are; what is the correct estimated survival time for an Anaplastic Astrocytoma Stage 3? Does it really come back after 18 months? She is feeling so healthy now and I’ve read that after the Radiation Therapy she will be feeling well again. Will that mean she will be fine and the tumor won’t come back? And after it comes back, what can be the possible options if any for her to survive/to try and fight this some more? The Oncologists told them when the tumor comes back they are not able to do anything further for her because the body can only take so much, so unfortunately the end will be near. If the diagnose is correct is it possible that there is a treatment out there than can help her prolong her life for years and years to come? It’s just so hard to believe this is truly happening to their family. Last question, do you really think there is a possibility of misdiagnose? Please let me know what your professional view of all of this is. I will appreciate any information no matter how bad/truthful it might be. We are really just looking for a little hope and not think of this as a “death sentence”. Also what can she expect at the end? Will she pass away in pain? How would my friend now the end is near?

Sorry for such a long post and so many questions, just looking for some hope….Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post.  

Answer
I have already answered your question. Please read my previous reply!



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