Just got diagnosed with Anaplastic Astrocytoma Grade III

Diablita
Diablita Member Posts: 18
edited March 2014 in Brain Cancer #1
Hi, my name is delia, and I just got diagnosed with an Anaplastic Astrocytoma Grade III, after more than 2 weeks and the neurosurgeons were trying to figure our what type my tumor was, they thought it was a Lymphoma, but ended up being an Anaplastic Astrocytoma Grade III.

They did the biopsy, and more than likely my tumor cannot be removed because it is affecting my memory, so the Doctors are afraid if they remove it or most of it I'll loose a bunch of my memories, so, I'm very scared, that's all I can say, I'm 32 yrs old and have 2 little kids aged 2 and 4, all I ask God is to let me live until my kids are adults.
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Comments

  • sue Siwek
    sue Siwek Member Posts: 279
    #2
    i cannot promise you the
    i cannot promise you the result that you and anyone with your diagnosis wants. let me tell you about my husband. in 2000 he was diagnosed with an inoperable aaa grade 3. he was 56 and we had 4 children. he is still alive! i believe if you go to a research and teaching hospital your chances are far greater. check out the medical colleges in your state and go!
  • PBJ Austin
    PBJ Austin Member Posts: 347 Member
    #3
    sue Siwek said:

    i cannot promise you the
    i cannot promise you the result that you and anyone with your diagnosis wants. let me tell you about my husband. in 2000 he was diagnosed with an inoperable aaa grade 3. he was 56 and we had 4 children. he is still alive! i believe if you go to a research and teaching hospital your chances are far greater. check out the medical colleges in your state and go!

    Keep hope alive
    I also cannot promise a miracle but a year ago my beautiful young sister discovered she had 2 tumors and several specks in her brain. When my sister's tumors were first found she was told they were ALL inoperable. She went for a second opinion at MD Anderson in Houston and they disagreed. Using their cutting edge technology, MD Anderson did remove the largest of the tumors. It was sent for testing and a diagnosis of Anaplastic Astrocytoma 3 came back. Once again I cannot promise that same result for everyone but it's certainly worth a second opinion.

    Initially the prognosis was grim so she began treatment at MD Anderson. She went thru radiation then chemo and in less than a year's time the cancer is no longer found on the MRI's. That doesn't mean it will never come back but for the moment there is no cancer to be found and we are now very hopeful she will be with us for many more years to come.

    I invite you to check out my thread called "Fast Recovery from AA3--Miracle or Mistake." If you scroll down you will find it. I gave a lot more detail in my thread and I hope it will be helpful to you. Please do consider Sue's good advice to use a specialty hospital like MD Anderson or one near you.

    Wishing you the best.
  • Snoweerane
    Snoweerane Member Posts: 10
    #4
    My 33 Year Old Daughter has the same type of cancer!
    Hello, I joined this group as I am a mother of a recently turned 33 year old daughter, my only child who was diagnosed with Anaplastic Astrocytoma Grade III in August, 2009. She wasn't told then that it was inoperable until we went to Seattle to get a 2nd opinion. We went there hoping that she would qualify for a procedure called gamma knife. They wanted to try two more rounds of chemo before that procedure would be considered. There is a high possibility that she may not qualify. It all depends on the cancer. My heart goes out to you. My daughter has 3 children; 14, 8 and 4. It is difficult to talk with others as it seems even my closest friends do not know what to say which is hard for me to understand. Her recent MRI shows no improvement but then it dosen't show that it is growing either. We will be going back to Seattle after this round of chemo sometime later this month or early June. I will keep you and your children in my prayers. It is such a difficult path however keep up your faith. Trust in God. We are, my daughter and I. We also have gotten closer. I pray that you have family members who help you with your children,and even with chores. Take care and God bless you!
  • Snoweerane
    Snoweerane Member Posts: 10
    #5
    PBJ Austin said:

    Keep hope alive
    I also cannot promise a miracle but a year ago my beautiful young sister discovered she had 2 tumors and several specks in her brain. When my sister's tumors were first found she was told they were ALL inoperable. She went for a second opinion at MD Anderson in Houston and they disagreed. Using their cutting edge technology, MD Anderson did remove the largest of the tumors. It was sent for testing and a diagnosis of Anaplastic Astrocytoma 3 came back. Once again I cannot promise that same result for everyone but it's certainly worth a second opinion.

    Initially the prognosis was grim so she began treatment at MD Anderson. She went thru radiation then chemo and in less than a year's time the cancer is no longer found on the MRI's. That doesn't mean it will never come back but for the moment there is no cancer to be found and we are now very hopeful she will be with us for many more years to come.

    I invite you to check out my thread called "Fast Recovery from AA3--Miracle or Mistake." If you scroll down you will find it. I gave a lot more detail in my thread and I hope it will be helpful to you. Please do consider Sue's good advice to use a specialty hospital like MD Anderson or one near you.

    Wishing you the best.

    Can't Find Your Thread
    Hello, I read your post and would like to read your thread. I scrolled down and couldn't find it. Is it on another page? I like as much information as possible regarding AA Grade III brain cancer. Thank you.
  • Diablita
    Diablita Member Posts: 18
    #6
    Snoweerane said:

    My 33 Year Old Daughter has the same type of cancer!
    Hello, I joined this group as I am a mother of a recently turned 33 year old daughter, my only child who was diagnosed with Anaplastic Astrocytoma Grade III in August, 2009. She wasn't told then that it was inoperable until we went to Seattle to get a 2nd opinion. We went there hoping that she would qualify for a procedure called gamma knife. They wanted to try two more rounds of chemo before that procedure would be considered. There is a high possibility that she may not qualify. It all depends on the cancer. My heart goes out to you. My daughter has 3 children; 14, 8 and 4. It is difficult to talk with others as it seems even my closest friends do not know what to say which is hard for me to understand. Her recent MRI shows no improvement but then it dosen't show that it is growing either. We will be going back to Seattle after this round of chemo sometime later this month or early June. I will keep you and your children in my prayers. It is such a difficult path however keep up your faith. Trust in God. We are, my daughter and I. We also have gotten closer. I pray that you have family members who help you with your children,and even with chores. Take care and God bless you!

    Thank you
    I'm going to a teaching Hospital here in town, the University Health System, they are pretty good and their Oncology team there is ready to work in my case. I'm very worried about my children because they are so little ( 2 and 4 ) they need me. I'm going to the Hospital next week to discuss my surgery because my tumor is affecting my memory, and the Docotors cannot completely remove it, so it's gonna be remove all they can and treat it with drugs and radiation, I'm very worried for kids, since they are so little, right now they are out of town with one of my aunts, but I miss them.

    My tumor is affecting some of my memory, so, that's why the Doctors cannot completely remove it, but my husband told me that they will talk to me about it and see if I would be willing to loose some things in order to get more of the tumor out. I'm very scared, especially because my children are so little, and I'm their primary caregiver. I can't believe this is happening to me.
  • niallsmum
    niallsmum Member Posts: 3
    #7
    Snoweerane said:

    My 33 Year Old Daughter has the same type of cancer!
    Hello, I joined this group as I am a mother of a recently turned 33 year old daughter, my only child who was diagnosed with Anaplastic Astrocytoma Grade III in August, 2009. She wasn't told then that it was inoperable until we went to Seattle to get a 2nd opinion. We went there hoping that she would qualify for a procedure called gamma knife. They wanted to try two more rounds of chemo before that procedure would be considered. There is a high possibility that she may not qualify. It all depends on the cancer. My heart goes out to you. My daughter has 3 children; 14, 8 and 4. It is difficult to talk with others as it seems even my closest friends do not know what to say which is hard for me to understand. Her recent MRI shows no improvement but then it dosen't show that it is growing either. We will be going back to Seattle after this round of chemo sometime later this month or early June. I will keep you and your children in my prayers. It is such a difficult path however keep up your faith. Trust in God. We are, my daughter and I. We also have gotten closer. I pray that you have family members who help you with your children,and even with chores. Take care and God bless you!

    Anaplastic Astrocytoma Grade 111
    My son was diagnosed with AAA in December 2008. He also had surgery, followed by radiation. He is on a lot of anti-seizure medication and steroids, but is keeping quite well at the moment. He's my only son. He's married with three children aged 15, 11 and 6. We're staying as optomistic as possible, and of course, we're praying. I have become really closer to him since all this started. I'll be thinking of you, praying for you, and sending you love. Keep hoping, and God bless. x x
  • Carlos1234
    Carlos1234 Member Posts: 5
    #8
    My father has a brain tumor
    My father has a brain tumor grade IV . He's life is coming to an end the doctors have no more choices but I can tell you this the only one to trust and the only doctor who can heal you and disspear you're tumor I God . Have faith that everything will be ok an trust in him miracles do hapen , may God bless you and you're family
  • Diablita
    Diablita Member Posts: 18
    #9
    niallsmum said:

    Anaplastic Astrocytoma Grade 111
    My son was diagnosed with AAA in December 2008. He also had surgery, followed by radiation. He is on a lot of anti-seizure medication and steroids, but is keeping quite well at the moment. He's my only son. He's married with three children aged 15, 11 and 6. We're staying as optomistic as possible, and of course, we're praying. I have become really closer to him since all this started. I'll be thinking of you, praying for you, and sending you love. Keep hoping, and God bless. x x

    Thank You
    Thank you for praying for me, and please do not stop writing to me, I really need all the support I can get, it means a lot to me.
  • Diablita
    Diablita Member Posts: 18
    #10
    Carlos1234 said:

    My father has a brain tumor
    My father has a brain tumor grade IV . He's life is coming to an end the doctors have no more choices but I can tell you this the only one to trust and the only doctor who can heal you and disspear you're tumor I God . Have faith that everything will be ok an trust in him miracles do hapen , may God bless you and you're family

    Thank You
    Thank you and thanks to everyone praying for me, please don't stop writing to me, your support means a lot to me.
  • Diablita
    Diablita Member Posts: 18
    #11
    Carlos1234 said:

    My father has a brain tumor
    My father has a brain tumor grade IV . He's life is coming to an end the doctors have no more choices but I can tell you this the only one to trust and the only doctor who can heal you and disspear you're tumor I God . Have faith that everything will be ok an trust in him miracles do hapen , may God bless you and you're family

    Thank You
    Thank you very much Carlos! Your support means a lot to me. I'm very scared.
  • Diablita
    Diablita Member Posts: 18
    #12
    niallsmum said:

    Anaplastic Astrocytoma Grade 111
    My son was diagnosed with AAA in December 2008. He also had surgery, followed by radiation. He is on a lot of anti-seizure medication and steroids, but is keeping quite well at the moment. He's my only son. He's married with three children aged 15, 11 and 6. We're staying as optomistic as possible, and of course, we're praying. I have become really closer to him since all this started. I'll be thinking of you, praying for you, and sending you love. Keep hoping, and God bless. x x

    Thank You!
    Thank you very much, your support means a lot to me!
  • Diablita
    Diablita Member Posts: 18
    #13
    PBJ Austin said:

    Keep hope alive
    I also cannot promise a miracle but a year ago my beautiful young sister discovered she had 2 tumors and several specks in her brain. When my sister's tumors were first found she was told they were ALL inoperable. She went for a second opinion at MD Anderson in Houston and they disagreed. Using their cutting edge technology, MD Anderson did remove the largest of the tumors. It was sent for testing and a diagnosis of Anaplastic Astrocytoma 3 came back. Once again I cannot promise that same result for everyone but it's certainly worth a second opinion.

    Initially the prognosis was grim so she began treatment at MD Anderson. She went thru radiation then chemo and in less than a year's time the cancer is no longer found on the MRI's. That doesn't mean it will never come back but for the moment there is no cancer to be found and we are now very hopeful she will be with us for many more years to come.

    I invite you to check out my thread called "Fast Recovery from AA3--Miracle or Mistake." If you scroll down you will find it. I gave a lot more detail in my thread and I hope it will be helpful to you. Please do consider Sue's good advice to use a specialty hospital like MD Anderson or one near you.

    Wishing you the best.

    Thank You!
    I'll check your thread! Right now I need all the support and good experiences I can get.
  • Snoweerane
    Snoweerane Member Posts: 10
    #14
    Diablita said:

    Thank you
    I'm going to a teaching Hospital here in town, the University Health System, they are pretty good and their Oncology team there is ready to work in my case. I'm very worried about my children because they are so little ( 2 and 4 ) they need me. I'm going to the Hospital next week to discuss my surgery because my tumor is affecting my memory, and the Docotors cannot completely remove it, so it's gonna be remove all they can and treat it with drugs and radiation, I'm very worried for kids, since they are so little, right now they are out of town with one of my aunts, but I miss them.

    My tumor is affecting some of my memory, so, that's why the Doctors cannot completely remove it, but my husband told me that they will talk to me about it and see if I would be willing to loose some things in order to get more of the tumor out. I'm very scared, especially because my children are so little, and I'm their primary caregiver. I can't believe this is happening to me.

    Will ask my daughter to join this group
    I already talked w/my daughter about joining this group as I see there are people who have the same type of cancer. This site has stories of hope, faith from people who have gone through or are going through this so they understand! She too has memory loss problems and seizures. They only did a biopsy, she's had radiation and chemo for six months; they stopped it in January. Then in March, we went to Seattle for the 2nd opinion. She's back on chemo for another 12 weeks then we go back to Seattle for her follow up. It is scarey and sometimes overwhelming. I know, as her mother, I've gone through alot of emotions with her. Its important that you talk to others you trust. The hospital that you are going to should have counselors. If it helps, take one day at a time. We live about 3000 miles from Seattle however I am impress with the medical team there as they are good. They recently put her on a higher dosage of chemo. They're hoping that this round of chemo will stop the tumor from going anywhere. I hope you don't mind if I put you on our prayer list? I am praying for you and your children, husband and your family.
  • kcgrace
    kcgrace Member Posts: 3
    #15
    23 year survivor of astrocytoma
    I was diagnosed when I was 34. Location - lt frontal lobe at the olfactory nerve. About the size of a pecan.Craniotomy with follow-up radiation- 60,000 rads of cobalt.The radiation was called focal-not full brain and it was to target the surrounding area primnarily affected by the tumor. My doctors told me because of the likelihood of reoccurrence-50% chance- I had maybe 5 years. As I look back I can tell you that the combination of a great medical team and faith is what I believe has made the difference.

    And as I read your survival stories (and each one of you is a survivor),I must praise your courage.You inspire me. I wish a message board like this had been available to me- because there was not a support group for brain cancer patients.It would have been really great to exchange information and have the comfort of other survivors.

    As I understand it- it takes the brain awhile to heal and everyone's process is different. I experienced some memory and social lapses- blurting things out,etc. It did eventually pass or everyone just got used to it.

    Ijust want to encourage all I can and hope my survivor journey can help someone else.
  • kcgrace
    kcgrace Member Posts: 3
    #16
    similar story
    I was 34 with 4 children. That was 23 years ago. I was told I had about 5 years. You and I had the same prayer- I know just how you feel. Keep the faith - I can tell you will not give up. Get good information - research all possibilities - be in charge of your illness and treatment.
    You are in my prayers- and please let me know if you have any questions I can help with.
  • PBJ Austin
    PBJ Austin Member Posts: 347 Member
    #17
    Snoweerane said:

    Can't Find Your Thread
    Hello, I read your post and would like to read your thread. I scrolled down and couldn't find it. Is it on another page? I like as much information as possible regarding AA Grade III brain cancer. Thank you.

    Snoweerane, Here's a link to my thread
    I apologize for not finding your question sooner, here is a link to the thread about my sister. You might have to copy and paste this.

    http://csn.cancer.org/node/185562
  • PBJ Austin
    PBJ Austin Member Posts: 347 Member
    #18
    kcgrace said:

    similar story
    I was 34 with 4 children. That was 23 years ago. I was told I had about 5 years. You and I had the same prayer- I know just how you feel. Keep the faith - I can tell you will not give up. Get good information - research all possibilities - be in charge of your illness and treatment.
    You are in my prayers- and please let me know if you have any questions I can help with.

    23 years--that's fantastic!!
    Thank you for sharing that kcgrace, it gives so much hope to those of us who are fighting this monster ourselves or vicariously through our loved ones. At what stage were you diagnosed? My sister was diagnosed at AA3 and given 3 to 7 years but her MRI's are now clear. I am fully aware it can return but your story gives so much hope to all of us.
  • Diablita
    Diablita Member Posts: 18
    #19
    kcgrace said:

    similar story
    I was 34 with 4 children. That was 23 years ago. I was told I had about 5 years. You and I had the same prayer- I know just how you feel. Keep the faith - I can tell you will not give up. Get good information - research all possibilities - be in charge of your illness and treatment.
    You are in my prayers- and please let me know if you have any questions I can help with.

    Wow
    23 yrs is wonderful I seriously hope GOD can let me survive that long, that would be wonderful! Did it ever came back? How are you now?
  • Diablita
    Diablita Member Posts: 18
    #20
    kcgrace said:

    similar story
    I was 34 with 4 children. That was 23 years ago. I was told I had about 5 years. You and I had the same prayer- I know just how you feel. Keep the faith - I can tell you will not give up. Get good information - research all possibilities - be in charge of your illness and treatment.
    You are in my prayers- and please let me know if you have any questions I can help with.

    Wow
    23 yrs is a lot, I seriously hope GOD can let me live that long, for my children, they need me, please pray for me and my family!
  • Snoweerane
    Snoweerane Member Posts: 10
    #21
    Diablita said:

    Wow
    23 yrs is a lot, I seriously hope GOD can let me live that long, for my children, they need me, please pray for me and my family!

    Daughter given 6 - 12 months
    The more I'm reading these comments, I am beginning to wonder if my daughter is given a misdiagnoses? She was given 6 - 12 months in January and again in March. Her dosage of chemo has been increased this past month. She is doing okay so far except for the side affects of the chemo. I just hope & pray that she will fight this and succeed. I've requested copies of her medical records just to get a better idea of where the cancer is located, etc. what options she is given when we were in Seattle is surgery and/or chemo. They all decided on a few more rounds of chemo. We live so far which don't give her much choice of clinics. I'm willing to take her anywhere! Plus I'm wondering if there is any kind of recipe book that deals with nutrition for cancer patients as she is barely holding food down. I'll continue my prayers for all of you. thank you so much for sharing as that gives us hope and inspiration. God bless you all!

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