Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 5/15/2010

Question
QUESTION: you have been very helpful in the past. helping methrustages of my brothers cancer...gliomablastoma  grade 4,.he had surgery june last year, plus  radio/chemo..now saome symptoms have returned, plus  paralis  on one side. he was admitted to hospital  and had a earlyMRI.(symtoms  now  gone.  the tumor had grown..ie;  treatmentdidnt work. !!!!nowhe is to have surgery again next week.is this just to keep him comfy?(palative)will they just cutaway as much as pos  again?and how often CAN  this be done? howmany times can he go thru operation to` chip` away at this  beast!

ANSWER: Unfortunately all treatments in a case like this must more or less be regarded as palliative. They will do what is possible. What is impossible will not be attempted. This can probably not be repeated again. It is not even sure that it will be possible this time. Only time can tell. Unfortunately his remaining survival time can probably be measured in months - at most!





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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hello, my brother had a succesful operation  last tuesday.they informed him that  they  had got out all the cancer that  showed up on his scan. the  remains of the last op last june..?? he had  a ct scan after his  op  at walton liverpool.he  now  waits for results of the biopsy.(WHY a biopsy  when they know his is a G 4  glioma?)that puzzles me....does that mean he  has a chance of a full recovery???????????????its all SO CONFUSING he certainly isnt the same man,but there again he has been thru  alot  and has been  pumped with lots  chemical..can you say.that  he may have won this  battle   ?

Answer
Unfortunately I have to disappoint you. There is no chance that he can win this battle. Not with a glioblastoma multiforme grade 4 tumour. Again no one can guarantee that all of such a tumour has been successfully removed. Actually the opposite is unfortunately most likely the case with this diagnosis. The surgical material is always sent to the pathology department in cases like this in order to double check the diagnosis etc. Unfortunately this does not change his bad prognosis. Only some more time has been won. I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!




You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128     There is no restriction to the number of questions there.