Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 12/10/2011

Question
QUESTION: My son was 25 when diagnosed with a grade 3 anaplastic Astrocytoma. He had a 90 percent removal near 3yrs ago and radium, except for seizures occuring he seems to be very healthy. My understanding is a 2 to 5 survival rate. He has MRI every six months. What should I be looking for in regards to the tumor returning

ANSWER: Any kind of neurological change from personality changes to an increase in his epileptic seizures may be a warning sign. But probably MRI scans will pick up any change before it is evident by any clinical change in symptoms. The 2 to 5 years of survival time is about right. But it is not an exact time frame. There are uncertainties in both directions. Though since he was treated almost 3 years ago we can rule out the "shorter uncertainty".



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

QUESTION: My son had his six month MRI it showed the tumor has returned, the surgeon will operate again in 10 days and place radium inside te brain, then follow up with chemo, the operation we have been told is more dangerous than the inital one, why is this?

Answer
Sorry to hear that but it was expected to happen unfortunately. Well he has had one previous operation and he has had radiation therapy. Brain surgery is always difficult and it is not made any easier by previous surgery and therefore scar tissue in the area. It is also even more complicated by his previous radiation therapy that reduces the ability of his tissues to heal. There is also an upper limit to how much radiation it is possible to give and he will come close to that limit. Chemotherapy may also complicate things. So this is NOT easy unfortunately!
I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!


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