21 years after surgery of Astrocytoma Grade 2

Dear all,

My mother had a surgery when she was 39 years old in 1991. She is brave, strong and never gives up. The type of the tumor was Grade II. After surgery she had chemotherapy. Also she took pills for a few years but she returned to job after chemotherapy. I left home for school in 2003. Up to that time she was OK and happy.

My father told me she felt for the first time when walking in 2007. My father told me she said she could not stop herself when walking. Last year, the colour of her lips started turning into purple sometimes and she felt tired usually. And now she barely sits, usually lies. Sometimes she falls when walking. She forgets like an old person forgets near past.

They tried some doctor and some said her sickness is Parkinson. But some others said it was not obvious whether she had Parkinson or not. The symptoms must be effects of the brain surgery. A doctor told them the shape of the brain changes each year because of the huge cavity left after surgery 21 years ago. Currently they are trying some pills but some made my mother vomit and sometimes she faints. When I visited her 2 weeks ago she was not well. She barely walks. She behaves as if her mother behaved a few years before she died in her 90s. She hardly remembered my middle name.

I think doctors are not able to diagnose her sickness. I need help. What can be the reason of her sickness? Do you have relatives or friends who had surgery long time ago and survived? Were they diagnosed Parkinson or some other neurological disease?

Not being able to do something makes me angry. Please help.
Thanks in advance

Comments

  • I_Promise
    I_Promise Member Posts: 218 Member
    Your mom's decline after 21 years
    Hello Man from Turkey,

    To answer your question, we need more info: what is her latest MRI? Did it show a tumor recurrence or is it normal? Did she receive radiation? If so where? The whole brain or targeted?

    J.
  • ManFromTurkey
    ManFromTurkey Member Posts: 2
    I_Promise said:

    Your mom's decline after 21 years
    Hello Man from Turkey,

    To answer your question, we need more info: what is her latest MRI? Did it show a tumor recurrence or is it normal? Did she receive radiation? If so where? The whole brain or targeted?

    J.

    Purple lips
    Hello,

    Thanks for your reply.

    After the surgery for 2 months she had radiotherapy 32 times. The tumor was in left frontal region with 3 cm diameter. Since front part of her hair is lost I guess(I was 6 years old at that time) only front and top parts of the brain was targeted. And after radiation, she used some pills for 6 months. Last year her MRI scan was clean. Tumor never recurred after the surgery.

    I need to add a few things. My mother now bites her tongue frequently and for that reason always chewing a gum. Except her brain she is healthy but sometimes her lips turn into purple colour, fells tired and sleeps. Any idea what is the reason?
  • I_Promise
    I_Promise Member Posts: 218 Member

    Purple lips
    Hello,

    Thanks for your reply.

    After the surgery for 2 months she had radiotherapy 32 times. The tumor was in left frontal region with 3 cm diameter. Since front part of her hair is lost I guess(I was 6 years old at that time) only front and top parts of the brain was targeted. And after radiation, she used some pills for 6 months. Last year her MRI scan was clean. Tumor never recurred after the surgery.

    I need to add a few things. My mother now bites her tongue frequently and for that reason always chewing a gum. Except her brain she is healthy but sometimes her lips turn into purple colour, fells tired and sleeps. Any idea what is the reason?

    Hi
    It looks like she had targeted radiation. If her last MRI was last year, then she needs another one ASAP. Her symptoms are new and therefore you need an updated MRI.

    Many things cross my mind, including a tumor recurrence, radiation necrosis, dementia associated with radiation, early alzeimers or parkingston. She needs a full neuro work up including blood work to check electrolytes. Her medication list needs to be reviewed.

    If your current doc is not giving you any answers then it is time to move to another specialist. I would advise you to move fast. I am not an neuro-oncologist. You need one.

    I am sorry you and your family are going through this. I hope you get some answers soon.

    J.