My brother's tumor location has spread/changed

mosey · Regular Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 15

He had two operations on gbm4 tumors in the temporal lobe. During the last resection, gliadel wafers were placed, and seem to have done their job. Nothing else has worked. the temporal lobe shows no new growth, and significant necrotic tissue. However.......

Now the tumor has popped up in the right Parietal lobe (no midline crossing yet). What symptoms can he expect to begin having now that the tumor is going to be growing in the parietal lobe? We didn't get much of an answer from the doc today.

Thanks in advance for your help.

mosey · Regular Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 15

My brother had an appointment with his oncologist this afternoon. We obtained and read the radiologists report from the MRI from last week.

The surgeon was completely wrong in his assessment. We were told that the wafers appeared to kill off the temporal portion of the tumor, but that it had spread to the parietal lobe. Not true at all according to this report.

The tumor has not spread to the parietal lobe, but has spread to the frontal lobe, and is larger than the mass seen in the March MRI. The temporal lobe has seen growth also. In other words, the wafers, like everything else that has been tried, did nothing. In addition, it is going into his veinous sinus (?), which I'm told will affect his eye. The worst news in the report was that the tumor is also surrounding both the carotid artery and the cerebral artery. He was told to begin home hospice immediately.

He is also sleeping about 16 hours per day now, and has numbness in his left leg.

I can't believe this news. It's just crushing.

mosey · Regular Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 15

I don't know if anyone is caring about my brother's story, but am here because I hope someone gains something from it. Even if I am just writing to myself, it helps to get it out.

This morning, at 5:30, my brother was taken by ambulance to the local hospital. He could not stand up, and was in a lot of pain. It turns out that his bladder is no longer functioning, but rather than expel the urine, it was holding it. He now has a permanent catheter, and is resting at home. Hospice is scheduled to come in today to evaluate his needs in about 20 minutes.

He still thinks he has maybe 6 months left. The oncologist told us this morning that he needs to be made as comfortable as possible because he has less than a month, and likely not that long.

My sister is emotionally drained and crying her heart out right now. I am on my way soon to his home, and don't know how long I'll be there, or what will happen next. They are waiting until I get there to let him know the truth regarding his likely time left.

This is very, very difficult. I wish everyone else here the best, and hope you have much more time to be with your loved one than it appears I will have now.

My brother is older than me, and I always looked up to him almost as a father since my dad died when I was 10. He is the strong one in the family.

Peace and good wishes.

Zippy · New User Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 5

Mosey.

I am new here, and I am so sorry to read your story. It is hard to know what to say.
I am a patient myself, and I know what a ******* this disease is.

I will say prayers for your brother, and wish you all the strength and courage to get through the following times.

love to you all xxx

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 702 Location: UK

I too am sorry about your brother - it is hard to know how to say the right words when things have become so desperate. I don't think the lack of reply is lack of interest, but that people are unsure what to say.

Please keep us informed. You will be very much in my thoughts.

brainman

Mosey, as Vee said, it is hard to know what to say at a time like this but that my thoughts and prayers go with you and with your brother. My mother died due to a GBM almost 9 years ago. In fact, it was 9 years ago day before yesterday that we took her to Nashville for her first MRI and 9 years ago today that she had a biopsy which confirmed our fears. My mother only lived until mid September, hardly 2 months after showing the first symptoms.

GBMs are devastating and sneak up on individuals giving them and their families little time to brace themselves. I am so sorry that your brother, you, and his family are faced with this. You can be assured that you are not alone just because, for our own reasons, we don't or can't reply. Keep us informed. I will keep you and your brother in my prayers.
_________________
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/

ksplat

Dear dear Mosey, Last night (Aust time) I had written several paragraphs to yr post sharing my thoughts & offering my support & sympathy 2 u & yr family. I was distracted by my Son & when I came back to finish story computer had logged me out & I lost everything! I couldn't face it again as the others who have offered support have said - it is sooo hard to find the words to comfort u in these desperately sad times with yr Bro so ill. I have told my Bro's story on a post of yrs earlier in the yr when yr Bro was so troubled with anger/depression issues. My Bro's GBM IV is a posterior tumour in his R Frontal Lobe. He had tumour debulked in May but seems to have suffered a stroke or something similar after surgery & has been in a wheelchair since. He is only 46yrs young. Initial diagnosis in Feb was INOPERABLE, on his brain stem & too risky for surgery due to it's location. His condition worsened so quickly that it was decided to de-bulk tumour to take some of the pressure off his brain (he was given only 2 wks to live, prior to debulking surgery). He was having seizures/grand mal seizures & was being hospitalised regularly. Since surgery no more seizures but paralysis down his L side. We are currently waiting for news on his MRI last week & are praying for a very positive result, we know this cancer is the worst kind & survival rates are very low for GBM IV.
Once again I am so very sorry to hear of yr brother's rapid decline, & I have gleaned from yr posts that the road has been very rocky & emotionally draining. R U still his primary carer? May God give u strength 2 support & comfort yr bro & yr loved ones!
I will pray each day....u are in my thoughts & prayers. God Bless, Aussie Angie.
_________________
Brother has GBMIV
Diagnosed Feb 07
46 Yrs young!
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=19227

"Without Faith We Have Nothing"

jenugl

Hi Mosey - my thoughts, prayers and love are with you, your brother and family. I'm sorry to read that you thought nobody cared about your brother's story. I must admit I hadn't read your posts (not through lack of caring - but just missed it somehow). I hope you know that we are all thinking of you at this terribly sad and unfair time in your life. Please stay in touch and let us know how you are coping and share your feelings, as you said it helps just to talk about it. Love to all. Jen

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