A tumor in the Pituitary Gland, any help?

Question

My Father-in-law was just diagnosed with a benign tumor in his Pituitary Gland.
We're not sure of the size. He has to have another MRI done of the Pituitary Gland to see exactly how big it is.
My Father-in-law has been having trouble with his balance when he walks, He always looks like he's staggering and going to fall. That was the reason for taking him to a Neurologist.

The bigger problem we're having is my Father-in-law is refusing to have it removed. He said he's 71 yrs old and he might out live it. He's just absolutely refusing.

The Neurologist is having more tests done but he's thinking that the tumor is growing out around the dome of the Pituitary Gland, which will then start to affect his Optical nerve.

Any thoughts on how to encourage him to have it removed , if it comes to this?
And is it really medically necessary to have it removed?

My Father-in-law is complaining because he is insisting that he is not having any trouble with his eye sight

Even though he has not gone to an eye doctor in years.
While the Neurologist was examining my Father in law, (in his first visit) it seemed he did not like what he saw while checking his eyes. He said the coordination was off (whatever that means with the eyes).
That's why he ordered the MRI to begin with.

Any thoughts on if we really need to have surgery to remove it?
Doctor did say it's a slow growing tumor.

It is true that if that affects his eye sight he will never get his eye sight back, even after the tumor is removed at that point, is that right?

Answer 1

Has the doctor discussed a medical alternative. It sounds like your father has a prolactinoma. The are indeed slow growing and often (although not always) respond to "bromocriptine", which suppresses the tumor's growth even more...and may actually start to shrink it.

If it does comes down to the surgery, perhaps you could show your father-in-law some information on the surgery. I'm sure it sounds kind of creepy to have someone poking around in his brain, but it is actually not that difficult a procedure. They actually go up through the roof of the mouth, with a pointed instrument, so there is no shaving of the hair, removal of pieces of skull...that sort of thing. And the recovery time is very quick. Perhaps once he knows that he'll be more comfortable with the idea.

But again, I wouldn't assume yet that he will have to have surgery. Maybe the bromocriptine will be enough. By all means discuss the options with your doctor.

Edit: The damage to the eyesight is progressive. It starts out as little black spots in his vision...hardly noticeable at first. Over time if untreated, the spots get bigger and bigger. If the optic nerve is damaged by pressure from the tumor, I don't believe the damage is reversible. But the loss of sight is not progressive either. So once the pressure is released, he won't lose any MORE sight.

Answer 2

You have my sympathy. It sounds like the doctors have given him the best diagnostic care, but he's refusing proper treatment - and you get left with a burden that would be greatly reduced or even eliminated if only he would budge.

Perhaps he's scared of surgery. That's the only reason I could find for why he's hesitant. A health care professional who is accustomed to dealing with surgery phobias might be the thing to get him in there. He really should have the tumor removed, otherwise his eyesight will be compromised. That's a guarantee - I recently had an MRI for a suspected pituitary tumor, and although I did not have one, I was told that they account for blindness in dozens of people every year.

Answer 3

He might not be having trouble with his eye sight now, but it will probably be coming soon.
If he doesn't get it fixed and starts falling all over the place; he'll probably start breaking some bones and be laid up for a while. He will feel miserable then.
71 isn't old these days. He's got a lot of good years left in him to get around and enjoy life.
Discuss the options of the surgery with the doctor to see if he should have it. They know all the answers to your questions that you may have. Write them down before you go so you will remember what to ask.
Prevention is important to avoid more problems.
Good luck.

Answer 4

My husband had this happen. If he doesn't get it treated he wont be able to walk at all. He had it treated and could walk again.Plus the pituitary gland works with the adrenal gland to send out hormones and things that the body needs. My husband had both stop working and he got really bad. He ended up passing away due to cancer that had gone all over his body.

Answer 5

Perhaps your best bet is to sign him up for classes in Braille so he can read after he goes blind. Maybe that will wake him up. Just tell him it's easier to learn Braille while he can still use his vision to help. (I do not know whether that is true.)