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loveski
New User
Joined: 27 Jan 2010
Posts: 3
Location: ohio
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 Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:13 am Post subject: After Radiation and Chemo |
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Hi, my MIL has Gliomatosis Cerebri. She has had a roller coster ride in discovering this; first they discovered the tumors and hydrocephly in 07 so she had a shunt put in and outpaitent chemo. She did great wtih this and her tumors shrunk. She continued to have follow-up MRIs and at one point the doctors said "this may not even be cancer." They never could do a biopsy since most of the tumors are in her brainstem.
So in July 09 she has another MRI, and even before she starts to feel different and more pressure. Well the tumors have grown a lot and incresed. So she started chemo and radiation in August and started to have double vision right before she started chemo. She had 7 weeks-5 days a week of temodar and whole head radiation. I don't know more specifics but I know it was aggressive treatment. She seems to do pretty well with the treatments and her vision did improve.
Her last treatment was in the beg of Oct and then she had an MRI in early Nov which shows no big changes but showed necrosis. Since then though she has been very fatiqued, somewhat disoriented, and generally seems to be getting worse. I only see my MIL once a week sometimes twice, but I have noticed a difference in her cognitive function, eating habits, and now she is using a cane.
Sorry for the long post but I just want to know if any this can be because of the radiation or is it (my gut feeling) the cancer progressing? I want to see her live as long and pain free as possible but I know the stats and I am a realist. The rest of my husbands family seems to think she will get over this. Of course that would be amazing, but I just wondered if its possible?????? |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 5976
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:40 am Post subject: Re: After Radiation and Chemo |
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Hi loveski. I am very sorry about your MIL's very rare cancer. Please, do not feel like you need to apologize; we do not all the information you gave in order to understand better your situation and it is by no means the longest I have seen.
As for your question... the changes you are observing could be caused by either the radiation or further tumor growth. Is she on any steroid (Decadron most likely)? Decadron helps with brain swelling due to radiator. It is impossible for anyone here to know which of those is the cause. Continue to talk with her own medical team making sure they know about this change is cognition.
You and your MIL are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=2405
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=2528
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 3: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Twitter: @JimHawkins54
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/James.Hawking54?ref=profile |
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loveski
New User
Joined: 27 Jan 2010
Posts: 3
Location: ohio
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| Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 10:10 am Post subject: Re: After Radiation and Chemo |
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Thanks for the quick response. Yes she has been on steriods(at first pregnazone(sp)) since she stated the treatments. They have gone up and down and all over with the doses, as she doesn't want to be on them but she is even more tired without them. Also this past week she started vomited, which is something that didn't happen during her first chemo treatment or this past chemo and radiation treatment.
I know she is seeing some of the best doctors in the world and the Cleveland Clinic, and she will have an MRI next week, but the most difficult part is that it is so rare and seeing her change. Please keep her in your prayers. I am happy to find this site, and I have and will continue to say prayers for all of out there with cancer. |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 5976
Location: Tennessee
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