My girlfriend has been diagnosed with a malignant mass at the base of her skull (it's attacking her brain stem). They performed the first surgery in January, that went fine untill they tried Chemo Therapy, which tried to shut down her CNS (they later found out she can't handle any radiation therapy or anything like that) they did a second surgery to see if they could finish it off and they got most of it but now it's back and soon it's going to take away her motor control. Is there anyway to stop it/destroy it/get rid of it? Mind you she can't have Proton Therapy, Gamma Rays, or anything such as these.
2007-03-05 04:00:57 · 7 answers · asked by Into the unknown 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
She tried Chemo after the first surgery, it started to shut down her Central Nervous System which is how they found out her skin is aggrivated by radiation rays.
2007-03-05 09:20:41 · update #1
I have new details as of today, the cancer is NOT malignant thank god. I found out I heard wrong, it is benign and the name of it is "maningiomas".
2007-03-07 00:43:45 · update #2
Wow, that's really sad. They've done two surgeries already. If she can't have radiation, that only leaves chemo.
You didn't mention if that's an option but this is a very aggressive cancer by the way you have described it. I don't know what to say except I'll say a prayer for her.
2007-03-05 09:15:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know somebody who has been diagnosed with bain tumors (but not brain stem in his case) and has survived for 3 years, with rather good quality of life, with an experimental chemo treatment. Conventional treatment was giving him 8 weeks at best.
If your girlfriend still wants to fight, you can try to look at the NIH website for experimental drugs which relates to her case. The procedures are well described and trials are made under good medical control. You can discuss this option with her and her doctors. But it ultimately, it is her choice to go or not to go for this. A lot of courage to both of you.
2007-03-05 11:49:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Brainstem gliomas are so difficult to treat -I presume the tumor is a glioma as it is malignant. To my knowledge there are no trials going on for brainstem gliomas but there are Neuro-oncology units that would give experimental (chemo) therapies off protocol. One additional website is virtualtrials.com which has a lot of brain tumor therapies.
Strenght in your fight!
wishes
mary a
2007-03-06 16:46:57 · answer #3 · answered by marya 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm so very sorry to hear this. sad to say, i have heard nothing more as far as treatment other than what you've stated here. if you haven't already, see the american cancer society web site. they'll have more info available. also, if you type in her type of cancer and clinical trials, something may come up. new things happen all the time. god bless you both and best of luck.
2007-03-05 09:25:42 · answer #4 · answered by racer 51 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone dies. That is why we like religions. We usually do not get to choose the way we die. I don't need to tell you the outlook for your girlfriend looks grim. Give her the comfort of being with her as much as possible and talk about anything, anything. Hope the treatments help her discomforts and give her remission. Continue to give her hope.
2007-03-12 19:24:38 · answer #5 · answered by syrious 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Here is a link that has questions she/you should ask the doctors, and also a link to clinical trials:
http://www.plwc.org/portal/site/PLWC/menuitem.6067beb2271039bcfd748f68ee37a01d/?vgnextoid=7e37ea7105daa010VgnVCM100000ed730ad1RCRD&vgnextfmt=cancer
And here's a link to a trial currently recruiting patients with meningioma/recurrent meningiomas:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00348790
Best wishes!
2007-03-10 11:23:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Given that you girl has adverse reactions to 'conventional' treatment, you should read this story.
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2007-03-12 13:50:49 · answer #7 · answered by Costy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋