Meningiomas metastisized to tthe lungs

MaKettle · New User Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Middle TN

Hi,
I am new here but thankful to have found this group.
My husband is a young 79 and we have just learned that he has numerous nodules on his lungs that are meningioma tumors.
In 1993 a meningioma was found by accident when a CT scan was done to try and learn why he was experiencing dizziness. (The meningioma had nothing to do with the dizziness it turned out). The meningioma was followed with yearly MRIs at the University of Michigan Hospital. All was well until April of 2001 when he started experiencing stroke like symptoms. Surgery was performed in early May of 2001 and a tumor the size of a large lemon was removed. It had grown into the skull and so a section of the skull was removed and an acrylic plate was put in. Recovery was complete and uneventful. The surgeon informed us that he had to leave a small piece of tumor as it was too close to a blood vessel to get to. He said if it should return, and his guess was approximately 10 years, that radiation could be used.
In January of 2007 we noticed a place on his head that seemed to be getting larger. Since we had moved to TN in 2003 we contacted his surgeon at U of M and was referred to a neurosurgeon at Vanderbilt Hospital. My husband saw Dr. Thompson and surgery was performed March 27. A tumor the size of the doctor's fist was removed from between the skull and the scalp. Dr. Thompson said my husband had a couple of loose screws and tighten down the plate that was connected to the skull. This tumor was classified as "A-typical" and was growing rather rapidly. Dr. Thompson suggested radiation to try and kill off any remaining tumor cells and so my husband had 30 radiation treatments in May of '07. Again, thankfully, he recovered quite well and only experienced some fatigue.
In January of this year a small spot started growing on the top of my husband's head. It grew rapidly and was removed on Feb. 20 and it too was meningioma, a-typical. A few days after having his stitches out I noticed yet another place starting to grow. This 4th. tumor was removed on April 15. The surgeon had a plastic surgeon standing by in case he was needed to close the incision. The original plan was to have the plastic surgeon do a skin graft and a 'flap' because the same area had been incised so many times. Right before the surgery the surgeon came and talked to us, telling us that a chest x-ray taken a few days before on his pre-op visit had reveled numerous spots on the lung. Because of these unknown spots he opted to just do a simpler surgery skipping the skin graft. While he was there in the hospital a CT scan was ordered and the spots were determined to be nodules. A fine needle biopsy was done and the result was meningioma tumors in both lungs. The nodules have been reported to be numerous and also too many to count. We have been told that this is a very rare condition and that there is no known protocol for treatment. This coming from doctors at Vanderbilt Hospital.
My husband has an appointment with a radiation oncologist tomorrow and with a neuro-oncologist on Friday. We have no idea what to expect their suggestions will be. At this time my husband has no problems with his breathing at all. He feels pretty good most of the time, again with mild fatigue. Of course most almost 80 year olds don't have a ton of energy anyway. He is mentally sharp. He takes coumedin for A-Fib; has an enlarged prostate but takes Avodart which helps a lot; he has arthritis and just in the last three days has had three tick bites that have made extremely itchy red places on his legs. He is on an antibiotic as a precautionary measure for those.
On another sad note there are two more places that look like they are starting to grow on his head...and we just saw the neurosurgeon on Monday!
Anyone have any suggestions? Ever heard of anything like this before?
Our faith has gotten us through this far and will continue to play a major role no matter what happens.

Thanks for reading.

MaKettle

ksplat

Dear MaKettle
So sorry to hear about your Husband's suffering with the tumour & then to have the news that it has spread! Your poor Husband has been through so much already! I am very glad you have found our forum & can assure you we are a close community of patients & carers who are happy & very willing to support you in any way.
Unfortunately, I am unfamiliar with yr Husband's condition but there is our very wonderful Admin - Jim (brainman) who is a guru with advice & information. As I said I can assure you of our support, love & comfort, at all times.
FAITH & HOPE are the most outstanding strengths we have as humans & I am certain these qualities will shine through & be a beacon for you on this journey of yours.
I do hope you receive a speedy reply to some of yr questions? God bless you.
Thinking of you,
Cheers, Angie.
_________________
Brother has GBMIV
Diagnosed Feb 07
46 Yrs young!
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=19227

"Without Faith We Have Nothing"

brainman

MaKettle, I am very sorry about your husband's cancer. There are some things that surprise me about his struggle and I am glad he is seeing the doctors at Vanderbilt (just up the road from me). I know very little about me meningiomas. I do know that they are one form of brain cancer that does spread. However, I thought it only spread throughout the brain and spinal cord... I learn something new every day. Sorry that I cannot be more informative. It does sound like a very rare situation indeed.

You and your husband 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/

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