Is it Cancer????

caprits · Regular Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 13

My mother had been complaining of headaches for many years. She had severe headache and high blood pressure a couple of weeks ago. She remained unconscious for 12 hours. The doctors did CT scan and MRI scan of her brain. They found a tumor and later on they said that its cancer.

The MRI report says that its a Astrocytoma. My question is that can a MRI suggest that a tumor is cancerous or not?? The doctors have suggested an immediate surgery. what if there is a delay in surgery??

My mother did a CT Scan of her brain in 2002. At that time there was no tumor which suggest that the current tumor has started growing after 2002. Its current size is 4x4 cm. Can this size or gowth rate suggest whether its a high grade tumor or a low grade one.

Waiting for early responses.

Regards
Ali

artaran · Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 1:12 pm Post subject: Re: Is it Cancer????

I'm very sorry to hear about your Mom's situation. MRI's can suggest a tumor is cancerous, especially if they reveal enhancement, but diagnosis won't be definitive until after surgery.

How long of a delay are you thinking of? I don't want to frighten you but some of these tumors can grow very fast.

If you aren't sure, get a second opinion. Also you may want to talk to a brain surgeon who does this kind of surgery often.

Best wishes,

Artaran

caprits · Regular Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 13

Thanks for replying. The delay may be of two to three weeks. That is also due to the fact that we want to get opinion from different surgeons and this may take some time. How much delay is considered to be dangerous in this type of situation.
regards

brainman · Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 6:27 pm Post subject: Re: Is it Cancer????

Ali, I am very sorry for your mother. The simple and yep complex answer to your question it: Yes, an MRI can "suggest" that a tumor is cancerous but the only way to know for sure is to do a biopsy. If they have not done a biopsy, they should. You should insist. My doctor's scheduled my biopsy the very night that I was tentatively diagnosed with my Astrocytoma.

A delay of 2 or 3 weeks is not very dangerous since an Astrocytoma is a slow growing cancer that your mother could have had for years. In addition, any form of glyoma has a very low chance of metastasizing... even to other areas in the brain. But still a biopsy should be done as soon as possible if only to give you, your mother, and your family a sense of knowing what she is dealing with. Will a brain biopsy carries with it the same risks as any other surgery but is otherwise relatively easy. Ted Kennedy just had one and went home in two days. He too has an astrocytoma.

You and your mother are in my thoughts and 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/

caprits · Regular Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 13

Thanks for your reply Jim. i have gone through your web pages and your story really gives hope and motivation to patients and their families.

We have got opinions from 4-5 neuro surgeons regarding my mothers brain tumor. They all have suggested immediate surgery but they never give a pleasant picture. They always say that there are chances of paralysis or even death during surgery. i was wondering if there is any possibility of just radiation treatment and no surgery at all.

Is it a good idea to go for surgery when the doctors are also not sure what is is going to happen with patent after that. I think my mother is in a situaton where she cant live with a tumor in her brain and there are risks in surery too.

ksplat · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 7:51 pm Post subject: Re: Is it Cancer????

Dear Ali

I wanted to write & acknowledge the current concerns you have in regard to your Mother's brain tumour & possible surgery?

With my Bro it was surgery or death so there was really no option. Although there are risks with any kind of surgery we were always very worried for Mark as his tumour is situated deep down on his brainstem. The surgeon was prepared to give it a go & said he wouldn't go any further than necessary. My Bro & his wife said go for it. He has had 4 craniotomies now (including initial biopsy last Feb). Mark was left disabled after 2nd surgery last May & during this operation surgeon found a large blood vessel with tumour involvement which he had to remove part of the blood vessel. We believe this was the cause of paralysis, altho in saying this Mark was in a bad way deficit wise prior to this surgery & was only given weeks to live without surgery.

My point in sharing this is, although my Bro has been in a wheelchair since, he has a great quality of life otherwise. He still has his fantastic sense of humour & his mind fully functional. His tumour is on the R side so his L side mobility has been effected.

Of the 4-5 neuro surgeons consulted for your Mother, what kind of neruological deficits do they "paint an unpleasant picture" of? In your situation you need to weigh up the pros & cons along with consultation with your surgeon of choice.

I pray this decision will come more easily for you.

Thinking of you, Angie.
_________________
Brother diagnosed with GBMIV Feb 07
Treatment: Radiotherapy, Temodal, Gliadel Wafers, Dexamethasone, Keppra, Dilantin, Clexane
Went to our Heavenly Father after a 19mth battle,, 47 years young.
23 Sep 2008
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=19227

"Without Faith We Have Nothing"

Derek · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 9:19 pm Post subject: Re: Is it Cancer????

Caprits,
Sorry to hear about your mother.
I also don't think one can diagnose an "astrocytoma" on an MRI, as all gliomas look the same - ie astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma and mixed glioma - on MRI.
Contrast enhancement is the best indicator of grade, however even no contrast enhancement does not rule out a grade 3, and some grade 2's may also enhance - although unlikely.
Biopsy and surgery is the only answere.
Had I have known in my wife's case the diagnosis (grade 2 oligo) - I don't think we would have been pressured into doing surgery so immediately - as early surgical intervention does not always improve longevity - and there are definite risks involved in doing brain surgery.
For instance oligos have a more propensity to bleed, as my wife's did, and cause life-threatenig side effects and long term cognitive deficits.
However, any glioma, by definition is cancerous, and must be treated accordingly and with the right advice from neurosurgeons and all other specialists.
Brainman may know, but there may also be a 1p/19q blood test available now, which may indicate a more likely oligodendroglioma - and an unlikely astrocytoma by the exlcusion process.
Probably this is getting a little confusing, so I'll leave it at that.
Derek

Derek · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 10:57 pm Post subject: Re: Is it Cancer????

One last thing caprits, surgery is usually only recommended immediately for grade 3 or 4 tumours.
Contrast enhancement will almost certainly suggest that.
The only panic in delay would be a glioblastoma, where every second counts, and counteracts the risk of surgery.
Radiaton therepy is done after surgery usually - but find out whether it can be used to "shrink" the tumour first, possibly with or without chemotherapy.
Any low grade tumour - there is plenty of time to research the facts and make an informed decision.
It should be noted that low grade glioma does not mean "benign", they are still cancerous, and invariably lethal.
Hence you have to make every year, month and day count.
Best wishes.
Derek

caprits · Regular Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 13

Thank you guys for your opinions.

The neurosurgeon has diagnosed it a high grade tumor. He said that if you dont opt for surgery your mom has a survival time of few weeks.

If we do opt for surgery then he said that the patient could die during the operation. If she survives she may have maximum of six months with the help of chemo.

Its like a dead end for my family now. Surgery or no surgery, my mom has not much time.

What is the best option here if you dont have hope in any case.

regards

brainman · Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 2:57 pm Post subject: Re: Is it Cancer????

caprits, I am very sorry about this bad news. My mother was in the same situation and opted for no treatment. She died within 2 months of diagnosis. The only good thing that can be said was that her death was very peaceful with very little plain. She did have breathing problems so was on morphine to ease her breathing. But she just gradually slept more and more until she finally did not wake up. I was blessed to be with her during the last days of her life and had time to really talk with her... we talked just a few hours before her death.

You and your mother and in my thoughts and 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/

caprits · Regular Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 13

Its always advised to get a second opinion for a Brain tumor. But sometimes getting opinions from different surgeons puts one in great dilemma.

As i wrote in my previous message, a very experienced and well known surgeon said to us that my mom has no chance of survival either with or without surgery. We met an equally experienced surgeon to get his opinion and hew was totally different. He suggested to go for surgery and he was hopeful of getting good results after surgery.

I guess many people on this forum must have gone through the similar situation and me and my family are in at the moment. Who should we trust?

Regards

petrit · Regular Joined: 15 Aug 2007 Posts: 33

Hello Ali
I was given same options with my fathers tumor . he was diagnosed last year with astrocytoma grade 3 quite large tumor aswell size of mandarine . I opted for immediate surgery wich took place next day of being diagnosed . I had dilema like yourself what to do cos i was told same that chances are very slim for survival with or without surgery. I did make that decison for my father I just cant tell u enough how glad I am for that. Its been a year since and my father has active life so far, I did spend 9 months with him back home. He just today travelled in kosovo back home from 2 months holiday in UK. If u do research for prof Chris O'Brien u will see that his last MRI is clear of any tumor , he had Glioma grade 4 . So I ma trying to say that there is allways hope and no point in loosing faith either.

I hope your mum gets the best treatments and gets well again

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