Friend Diagnosed with Grade II Astrocytoma

juruki · New User Joined: 16 Oct 2009 Posts: 4 Location: SoCal

My friend is only 29 years old and he was diagnosed a month ago from today (Actrocytoma Grd II). He had a biopsy done and the tumor was unoperable. I heard astrocytomas are brain cancers but his is located inside one of his vertebraes near his neck? The tumor is around the nerves in his spinal cord. Is this just as bad as a cancer inside his head?They gave him 5 years : (
He is still recovering at home from an infection he had after surgery. His right arm is so numb that sometimes he doesnt know where his arm is. His right leg is not as numb but its weak and he has a hard time supporting his weight. He cant move his neck to look up down or sideways after the surgery. Are these symptoms here to stay or do they go away? What is to be expected once the tumor starts growing? Is he going to lose mobility? Since he cant move by himself he has to have a person always there taking care of him.
What worries me is that he keeps postponing chemo and radiation. His whole family thinks chemo and radiation will kill him quicker. I tried to talk to him about it and he is just scared. What do you guys think? Should he do it as soon as possible? He says he wants to try natural medicines and stuff first.
Im scared that if he TRIES those medicines and they do not work his tumor will be even bigger by the time he starts chemo....
Any advice? Cancer SUX!

juruki · New User Joined: 16 Oct 2009 Posts: 4 Location: SoCal

I just found out its Grade III Anaplastic Astrocytoma...
Any advice?

artaran

My son, now 26, was diagnosed with an anaplastic astrocytoma almost three years ago. He is now in remission. His tumor was operable and not in near a sensitive location as your friend's, however. We were very concerned about radiation and chemotherapy as well, mostly because our son happened to be asymptomatic, but the doctors assured us that the treatment would extend his life expectancy. He tolerated the radiation and chemo very well and even trained for a marathon and worked on his Master's degree while on it.
I think your friend should seriously consider treatment, because it can shrink the tumor and improve his symptoms and thus quality of life. Because his tumor is in such a sensitive location, I highly recommend that he shop around and make sure that he has a reliable and meticulous radiation-oncologist.

I wish him well--be sure to tell him to research his options carefully and get second opinions.

Arleen
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Arleen Tarantino

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CAT130G · Regular Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 20 Location: Texas

I was diagnosed in January of 2006 with a presumed Low Grade II Astocytoma, I still have not had a needle biopsy so that is unconfirmed.

Mine is in my left frontal lobe and affects my speech and right motor skills. I have taken anti-seizure medication for the last three and half years and fully support waiting. I am still working and caring on my day to day life with exception of driving for the last 5 months. I am waiting until I can not work before I proceed with the surgery and any other treatments.
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feather · Regular Joined: 10 Jun 2009 Posts: 23 Location: australia

I was diagnosed with a very large grade 2 astrocytoma in 2002.I opted not to have chemo or radiotherapy. I had 98% of the tumour removed surgically.Over time I did regain some functions that were lost during the surgery.I think its worth remembering that radiation to the brain is almost certainly going to cause damage to healthy tissue-That's what I was advised. Personally I opted for quality over quantity when it came down to it-but 7 years later I'm alive and have not had a recurrence.
My sincere wishes to you for a positive outcome.
Love,
Feather.

artaran

I think it is important to note that there is a significant difference between and Grade III tumor and a Grade II tumor. Grade II tumors are very slow growing and it is often suggested that those cases to hold off on chemo and radiation. However, Grade III tumor grow much faster and are ofter evolving into GBM's. There is new type of radiation treatment now that focus primarily on the tumor and lessen effects of radiation to healthy tissue.

Be sure to have your friend discuss his situation with more than one doctor. And to research the topic on his own. It's a very tough and individual decision.

Arleen
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Arleen Tarantino

http://www.willpowerresearchfund.com

artaran

I think it is important to note that there is a significant difference between and Grade III tumor and a Grade II tumor. Grade II tumors are very slow growing and it is often suggested that those cases to hold off on chemo and radiation. However, Grade III tumor grow much faster and are ofter evolving into GBM's. There is new type of radiation treatment now that focus primarily on the tumor and lessen effects of radiation to healthy tissue.

Be sure to have your friend discuss his situation with more than one doctor. And to research the topic on his own. It's a very tough and individual decision.

Arleen
_________________
Arleen Tarantino

http://www.willpowerresearchfund.com

feather · Regular Joined: 10 Jun 2009 Posts: 23 Location: australia

Hi- I thought our original poster had been diagnosed with a grade 2.Sorry if I got this wrong here.
Feather

Roman957 · Regular Joined: 22 Feb 2009 Posts: 27

My wife was diagnosed with an Anaplastic Astrocytoma III in October 2008. While the tumour was accessible and she did have surgery, not a lot of the tumour could be removed, because this type of tumour tends to insinuate itself with normal brain tissue. In fact the surgeon indicated that in some areas he could not readily distinguish between what was tumour and what was not. Of course we were concerned with this, but he indicated that surgery is not the primary determining factor in someone's prognosis, because even if you got 99% of the tumour, the remaining 1% could quickly grow back. So in addition to surgery, where it is possible, radiation and chemotherapy are the standard responses to malignant type III and IV tumours. My wife has gone through the 6 week combined radiation/chemotherapy regime and is now finished her 9th cycle of chemotherapy. Her tumour has shrunk from 46 mm after surgery to between 2 - 3 mm today, which shows this treatment can be very effective. Other than fatigue and losing her hair (which has come back) there have not been a lot of side effects. Even nausea is generally controlled with medication. I am not saying it is a picnic but it is not nearly as difficult as other types of cancer treatment. There are many other stories like ours out there. From our experience, going for the treatment is a no-brainer.
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Roman

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