Difference in classification

aprylpauline · New User Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 8

Brainman,

I had 98% of my tumour removed. I believe my Neurosurgeon at the time told me that they got it all but he had to say 98% because the tumour has/had tenticles that he could probably not see. How well would radiation and Temodar work in killing 2%? I am trying to be realistic but I would think that I have a pretty good prognosis? But hey, it's better to be positive anyway, right?!
They told me it is an anaplastic astrocytoma grade 3 but then my path report said it was a mixed glioma, 1p intact, 19q deleted. What does this mean and why would they say two different things? Is AA a mixed glioma?
Thanks for any answers you can provide...

brainman · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:16 pm Post subject: Re: Difference in classification

Hi aprylpauline.

First, just to let you know... you can keep all of your story together by simply replying to your own topic. That will make it a lot easier to review your story. Sorry to say it but me memory is not too good Embarassed

. Plus, other readers will have a much harder time if they have to search for past posts just to understand what we are talking about. Not a big deal... just something that would help all of us.

Yeah, that is the problem with all gliomas... they tend to have little threads going out form the main tumor so the surgeons can rarely be totally sure that they removed it all. I think the radiation+chemo route is the right one for you.

The word "mixed" can have several meanings in your case. Sometimes, it is used to refer to the presences of cancerous astrocytes (AA) and olygodendrocytes (AO). Sometimes the "mixed" means a mixed grade (for example, some grade II and some grade III). In your case, it could be referring to the gene deletions. In any of these cases, they will treat it as if all cells were the same... the worst possible ones present.

I hope this information helps and does not further confuse you.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

aprylpauline · New User Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 8

sorry for starting soo many new threads!!! I guess I do talk too much Confused

Thank you for your response and no you didn't confuse me, too much anyway. I'm sure I will have many more questions for you in the future and I look forward to one day maybe helping people in the same way you yourself are. Very Happy

brainman · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:34 pm Post subject: Re: Difference in classification

No problem with too many questions or even too many posts... it is just hard to follow a "conversation" when it is on different "phone lines" Very Happy

.

Naaa, you don't talk too much... just read my story and you will see that I am the one who tends to talk too much Wink

_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

Derek · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 5:45 am Post subject: Re: Difference in classification

Hi aprylpauline

My understanding is that mixed glioma usually means an astrocytoma with an oligodendroglial component.
The oligodendroglial component is more sensitive to chemotherapy - particularly with gene deletions present.
This thus has a better prognosis than a pure astrocytoma, though not as good as a pure oligodendroglioma.
I personally think that the Grading System is a little vague, and that Grade 2's and Grade 3's should be further sub-categorised, as this would make it more accurate for patients to understand their condition.
Good luck with your chemo and/or radio, and I hope you go ahead and have children and have a lot of years ahead of you.
My wife has an oligo, but she is 10 years older than you - so more children is out of the question.
You are still young enough and obviously energetic enough to fulfill your ambitions.
good luck , Derek

kami88 · Regular Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Cleveland

Hi I was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor with like 4 tenticles in august 2006. I am now cancer free after all the chemo and radiation. I hope this gives you some hope for your 2%!!

aprylpauline · New User Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 8

Hi Kami88, thanks for sharing that. You have given me hope!!! Sometimes I think that I am being silly by thinking that I might die because I had such a good surgery and have been tolerating the treatment very well, but a lot of the time it scares the crap out of me when I think about recurrence, it's such a dark place...

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