High grade brain tumor treatment side effects

Deb483
Deb483 Member Posts: 1
edited June 2023 in Brain Cancer #1

Hello. My husband had a partial resection of his brain tumor and radiation 10 years ago. It was a low grade Glioma at that time. For the past 10 years we have just monitored with MRI's.  Minor growth until recently. Now it is growing fast and presents as either anaplastic astrocytoma or a glioblastoma. The doctor said it could be a grade 4 from viewing the MRI but biopsy isn't worth it. He is starting 6 weeks of radiation again but adding temodar at the same time. Then will do another 6 months of temodar. Has anyone done this treatment plan and if so was it successful at all. Also is it really tough side effects?  He is very physically healthy only issues is the brain cancer. Minor seizures, memory and confusion, fatigue, headaches etc.  still hikes and kayaks etc.  We are just anxious and trying to prepare as best we can for this treatment. We appreciate any feedback or advice. 
Thank you

Comments

  • Footdoc
    Footdoc Member Posts: 13 Member
    #2


    If I could do it again I would not do radiation for my mother 75 with GBM , started with AA stage 2 wild type.

    Treatment was keppra and vimpat for seizures from tumor , lost L hand was the first tip something was wrong , glioma on MRI , with balanace prob. After 6 wks radiation she lost the left leg and arm so total L sided paralysis, wheelchair.

    The chemo caused mom drop in platelets , thrombocytopenia and her WBC too so thats pancytopenia

    cancer causes clots , maybe radiation did too ?? she got DVT in left leg and leg to a PE , so then on Eliquis for anticoagulant

    decadron prescribed in beginning for swelling in brain from tumor but that raises blood sugar so she had diabetes for a while , got on insulin for months, then they took her off decadron and blood sugar normal again .

    tough choices but mom couldn't have surgery , it was too widespread , not like a solitoray mass so radiation / chemo is all offered . I know she needed something for seizures so thats no prob. it does make her fatigued and sleepy.

    the radiation I wouldnt do that. the chemo i would do reluctantly but there may be complications that you should find with routine blood work.

  • greatfulGBfighter
    greatfulGBfighter Member Posts: 4 Member
    #3

    Sounds similar to my case. Was diagnosed in 2014, did 6 weeks of radiation and chemo(Temodar) 150mg twice daily. Followed by a maintenance phase of 400 mg Temodar for a 5 day period monthly. The only side effects I experienced was constipation (a common side effect). Fortunately my platelet counts were never low; and I wound up staying on it for 5 years

  • Ramjack
    Ramjack Member Posts: 1 Member
    #4

    Hi my wife is having similar done and we are early in the process. april 3 2023 was date of insult. anaplastic oligodendroglioma grade III, IDH1-mutated, 1p/19q deleted. that day started with a seizure and ended with an awake craniotomy a week later. She is very healthy and was doing high intensity workouts prior to all this. she is 38. I am wondering how the chemo and radiation are going to effect her as well. We have another resection later this month and starting chemo(temodar)/radiation in july.

    Any and all advise is appreciated.

  • healingbrain
    healingbrain Member Posts: 1 Member
    #5
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1706281#Comment_1706281

    I know that quite a bit of time has passed since you wrote. I too have Oligo Grade III, IDH1-mutated, 1p/19q deleted. It is left-temporal, too many risks to functionality so no surgery planned. It has not caused any seizures so was just treated with 5 weeks radiation back in winter 2022, chemo dropped platelets and WBC too much so that was stopped after a month. Still on daily keppra and that's it. Praying that it remains so for the indefinite future. I hope that your wife has come through this journey safely.

  • sherah
    sherah Member Posts: 2 Member
    #6
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/324083/high-grade-brain-tumor-treatment-side-effects

    Similar treatment path for my grade 3 astrocytoma. I’m 30 basically became vegan aside from eggs and healthy other than glioma. We’ve started radiation. I’m in week three and feeling the side effects of fatigue, nausea, but trying to combat that with IV therapy and a really well balanced diet and light exercise. Still suffer daily seizures, minimum of one maximum of three slightly increasing in severity. Neurologist are trying to combat it as I’ve been on Keppra, which was working for a while alone until it got worse after I tried fast, do not fast with seizures. FYI .

    now I’ve tried so many combinations of seizures meds, and nothing seems to keep the seizures away and radiation seems to intensify them. No other major side effects as of yet and hoping that none will come. a lot of factors into how your body will respond to it, I believe I’m going to opt out of the chemotherapy. will update you as to how it all goes. Much love. Hang in there, blessings.

  • tk6262
    tk6262 Member Posts: 1 *
    #7
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/324083/high-grade-brain-tumor-treatment-side-effects

    If it is GBM I'm sorry. If they can tolerate treatment and want to be around, then they should do the treatments. Everyone is different. My husband tolerated radiation & TMZ well enough. But some don't and no one can really predict. He is starting to decline now, but he was dx 13 months ago with GBM. So I feel, and I believe he does too, that it was worth it for him. Good luck

  • tinamariephillipS18
    tinamariephillipS18 Member Posts: 1 *
    #8
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/324083/high-grade-brain-tumor-treatment-side-effects

    I did the same regimen, chemo was tough. I was so sick. And because I took it at night so I want such through the day, I didn't get much sleep. My Glioblastoma came back this past September after being free for 2.5 years.

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