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Brain Tumors/Glioblastoma brain tumor

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Expert: - 8/2/2010


Question

My Beautiful Mother
I recently lost my mother, on May 22nd 2010. She was my best friend, and this was totally out of the blue, she was 40 years old. Up until about a month prior to her death she was in good health although she did have a long term Thyroid disease that she took medication for daily. She was a massage therapist, and was very active. About a month before she passed, her head started hurting very badly and she went to our family doctor who said she had a bad sinus infection and prescribed antibiotics, after about a week she was only feeling worse and called the doctor back and she called in more antibiotics for her. She was a strong willed person, I asked her multiple times when I saw how much pain she was in if she wanted to go to the hospital and she refused, within a month of when the pain began, she died. I was so shocked thinking how could this happen to my mom when she just had a sinus infection? I have been stressed and heartbroken as my mother is gone and I found out that I am pregnant only weeks after her death. We just got the Autopsy report back TODAY and the results said that it was a Glioblastoma brain tumor. My question is do you have any insight on possibly how long she may have had this tumor, because no one was aware that she had a tumor and then one day she was one. Given the fact that she had thyroid disease do you possibly have any insight on this? Any thoughts would help in my journey for peace and closure. Thank you.

Answer
Even if her glioblastoma (even more so if it was a glioblastoma multiforme!) had been found early it would have killed her regardless of treatment since all these malignant brain tumors so far have at present a hopeless prognosis. Brain tumors are sneaky they may not show any symptoms at all until late in the process which seems to be the situation here though to tell you exactly how long she has had it would be pure guesswork. Unless such a tumor gives some neurological symptoms the only way to find them is by using CT & MRI brain scans. There is most probably no connection at all to her thyroid problems. I'm very sorry for your loss!





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    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThank You so much for your insight.


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Claes-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 and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation Therapy, educated and trained in Sweden. Now retired. 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. You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128 . I have no restrictions on the number of questions there. I also answer questions about Oncology (General Cancer), General History, Military History, Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer.

Education/Credentials
Doctor of medicine, specialist in medical oncology & radiation therapy.

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