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Brain Tumors/Brain Tumors

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Expert: - 9/28/2007


Question
Mom was diagnoised with four tumors on her brain which was caused by melanoma,she has already suffered brain swelling,and loss of motor skills and thought process,she is being treated with radiation and steroids,what is her life expectancy and what will her quality of life be,  Thanks  Pam

Answer
I'm very sorry to read about her - and your - problems! Unfortunately malignant melanomas are usually not very sensitive to radiation therapy and chemo therapy. If however these tumors are small - well below one inch in size - it may be possible to delete them with the radiological treatment from a GammaKnife. That will probably only be a temporary relief though. So I estimate her survival time to be around one year but it may also unfortunately be much shorter. She may get epileptical fits and develop stroke like symptoms. She will probably sleep more and more and become more confused. Eventually pass into a coma and then pass away. There will not be much pain. I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!

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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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