Advise on Brain Tumors from Melanoma

gphilliphearn

This is a difficult question for me to ask. My closest friend's father was diagnosed with stage IV melanoma in December. He never had a visible skin lesion which makes it so hard and suddon. He began going to MD Anderson for treatment in early January. Six weeks ago after a new round of test six (6) tumors were found in his brain. The doctors recommended full brain radiation.
Last week, after going through two weeks of daily radiation, he woke up with the inability to talk or write. He was rushed to the ER at anderson and the family was told that one or more of the tumors had hemmoriaged.
Since that time he has been on massive amounts of steriods and he is not a candidate for surgery.
The family was told he could return home and we took him home this weekend. He actually seems to be doing better and has gotten a few words out. He can walk, but with help. He is eating only liquids.
I see how well he is doing now, but I am concerned. He is like a father to me and I would never voice my concerns with the family. It is not my place. But what is the real prognosis here? Things seem to be all over the map. What is his survival rate? My friend has come home and plans to go visit again in a few weeks, but I am concerned that the lack of information may lead the family, and my friend, into some false hope and in stead of spending as much time as he can with his father, he believes everything is going great. I hope they are and I pray they are. I know no one can say for sure, but I would like some advise. Should I be encouraging my friend to spend as much time as he can at home with his father? I love my friend and his father a great deal. I have been there helping the family every step of the way and will be there for the long haul. Can anyone give me some advice here? Dont sugar coat it for me...just plain advise.
Thanks!!

cam2006 · New User Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 2

My fiance' had sudden leg weakness last april and could not walk. He had a lump on his neck. He was sent to neurologists who could not find the source of the weakness. They finally gave up after seeing some spots on brain and a lump in his chest (which they thought was nothing) and sent him to an oncologist. My fiance' was able to walk with a walker but seemed to get weaker and weaker. The oncologist did a needle biopsy on lump on neck beginning of June and later another biopsy on lump in his chest. The 2nd biopsy was inconclusive and they decided they would have to do again. In the meantime, one night my fiance suddenly got weakness in his left arm. I contacted oncologist next day to say problem getting worse and he indicated results had just come back from needle biopsy and said it was cancer. They did not know what type. Ultimately they started to treat for lung cancer but further testing revealed was actually malignant melanoma and it had mestasized to the brain. There were no symptoms before this and doctor said some melanomas don't like surface.. may start as a small pimple and go within the body. It could have been there since he was a child and got activated somehow. They counted at least 3 tumours in his head and said perhaps more hiding and ultimately did whole brain radiation (5 treatments).. The biggest tumour 3 cm x 2 cm had caused brain swelling and bleeding which accounted for sudden loss of use of his left arm (and no movement any longer in his left leg either). He has had minor memory issues so far and no nausea and great appetite. It is hard to look at him and believe that the light will soon go out in those eyes. He is so much like normal when speaking to him. They said radiation was purely palliative. That he had as a median 6 months but his paperwork for disability says less than 3. He is currently in hospital awaiting a place in the local hospice. Oh, forgot to mention.. he is only 34 years old and seemed otherwise healthy till this came out of the blue. Sad

. Again, everyone is different.. but for us we spend every day at the hospital with him and try to do basically everything he wants and give him what he wants to eat. I stay over every other night at the hospital. I work full time and a part time job and 2 teenagers otherwise I would be there 24/7... We have made funeral arrangements and everything already.. My fiance' requested it be done. The will and POA are in place. I want to enjoy what time there is left as much as possible.. before he can no longer communicate... I personally would advise your friend to be optimistic yes because for some miracles happen but I think I would try to face facts too... but that is just me. This cancer appears to start going rampant once it kicks in. The biggest tumour was 9 mm when they first saw it and did not know what it was back in April and the others weren't there.. now they are so big already.

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