Father just diagnosed with Astrocytoma Stage 3 - need help

slynny
slynny Member Posts: 3
edited March 2014 in Brain Cancer #1
2 days ago we were told my father has stage 3 astrocytoma. There were 5 places in the U.S. that were recommended for us to research in the next week to determine where we would like to start chemo and radiation: MD Anderson, Mayo, UCSF, Duke, and NY-Methodist Hospital. Do you know if any of these are better than an other? Do you know if any of these are doing trials on stage 3? What can I expect with this? My dad is recoverying from his' surgery and I want to make sure we are doing all we can to give him the best chance. Please help. All insight is on where to go and astrocytoma is exetremly helpful.

Comments

  • janinemah
    janinemah Member Posts: 53
    #2
    I've heard of Duke, Mayo and MD anderson..the others I have not...the main thing would be to go to a BRAIN TUMOR center....I wish you well,
    Janine
  • margin
    margin Member Posts: 8
    #3
    8 yrs ago I was diagnosed w/asytrocytoma class 2.gammaknife radiation at piedmont/atl,ga. no problems till a few months ago. shaking of right hand, weak, bad migraines,had to quit work (I am 50 yr old female)filled for disability nov 06. tumor went to between class 3 & 4 in July 07 and was removed at Emory/Crawford Long Hospital in Atl, GA. stayed in hospital 3 days after surgery & went home. Able to care for self and have had 29 radiation treatments and took chemo pills at night 7 days a week during radiation (temodar). Had bad rash develope after 1 month, no longer taking temodar and I have 1 more radiation treatment. I am doing very well and thanks to the Lord I am healed and will live many more years. I will pray your father will have the success I have had and the many blessing God has given to me. God has given me a 2nd chance and I now live my life for him and give him all the praise. Keep me in your prayers also.Emory doctors saved my life so I am partial to Emory in Atl, GA.
  • esheka
    esheka Member Posts: 2
    #4
    In 2002 I was dx'd with AAIII (anaplastic astrocytoma). All the hospitals that you have mentioned are very reputable, but just like janinemah said go to a Brain tumor center because other cancer centers may just treat it like any other cancer. The only problem with this is that there is a blood-brain barrier involved and this has to be taken into account, aside from many other important points about the brain. Another great resource about brain tumors, clinical trials, and therapies is Virtual Trials.
  • mbgyrl
    mbgyrl Member Posts: 9
    #5
    My husband went to Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC and the surgeon and doctors are excellent. He was recently diagnosed with a mixed glioma.
  • slynny
    slynny Member Posts: 3
    #6
    margin said:

    8 yrs ago I was diagnosed w/asytrocytoma class 2.gammaknife radiation at piedmont/atl,ga. no problems till a few months ago. shaking of right hand, weak, bad migraines,had to quit work (I am 50 yr old female)filled for disability nov 06. tumor went to between class 3 & 4 in July 07 and was removed at Emory/Crawford Long Hospital in Atl, GA. stayed in hospital 3 days after surgery & went home. Able to care for self and have had 29 radiation treatments and took chemo pills at night 7 days a week during radiation (temodar). Had bad rash develope after 1 month, no longer taking temodar and I have 1 more radiation treatment. I am doing very well and thanks to the Lord I am healed and will live many more years. I will pray your father will have the success I have had and the many blessing God has given to me. God has given me a 2nd chance and I now live my life for him and give him all the praise. Keep me in your prayers also.Emory doctors saved my life so I am partial to Emory in Atl, GA.

    Thank you so much for your message. My father is headed to MD Anderson on Tuesday. He has recovered from surgery and is in good spirits. We are all hopeful, but know this will not be any easy road. I wish you all the best and you will be in our prayers! Many thanks again for your insight.
  • slynny
    slynny Member Posts: 3
    #7
    esheka said:

    In 2002 I was dx'd with AAIII (anaplastic astrocytoma). All the hospitals that you have mentioned are very reputable, but just like janinemah said go to a Brain tumor center because other cancer centers may just treat it like any other cancer. The only problem with this is that there is a blood-brain barrier involved and this has to be taken into account, aside from many other important points about the brain. Another great resource about brain tumors, clinical trials, and therapies is Virtual Trials.

    Thank you so much. I really appreciate your help. We are hopeful and starting treatment post surgery on Tuesday! I will be back on this board many times I feel - thank you for being willing to post!
  • sweetness3848
    sweetness3848 Member Posts: 1
    #8
    esheka said:

    In 2002 I was dx'd with AAIII (anaplastic astrocytoma). All the hospitals that you have mentioned are very reputable, but just like janinemah said go to a Brain tumor center because other cancer centers may just treat it like any other cancer. The only problem with this is that there is a blood-brain barrier involved and this has to be taken into account, aside from many other important points about the brain. Another great resource about brain tumors, clinical trials, and therapies is Virtual Trials.

    my boyfriend was diagnoised august 2007 with anaplastic astrocytoma stage 3. did radiation, chemo pill and then went to IV. he is now bed ridden with hospice coming in to help him. just a matter of time now.
  • Felixthecat
    Felixthecat Member Posts: 37
    #9
    sweetness3848 said:

    my boyfriend was diagnoised august 2007 with anaplastic astrocytoma stage 3. did radiation, chemo pill and then went to IV. he is now bed ridden with hospice coming in to help him. just a matter of time now.

    Based on this research, the following is now known about hormone receptor status of astrocytomas which as you will note is variable. For those that are progesterone receptor positive a drug called mifepristone might help because it is a progreterone antagonist. Unfortunately it's only available for compassionate or special use if other treatments have first failed. See the FMF in the US for info on how to get the drug through the program they run and if all else fails it's worth a try.

    2001: Progesterone receptor isoforms expression pattern in human astrocytomas
    http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6SYT-445R9DJ-7&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=bb984f016d5386994c3154f4948738fb
    • Progesterone receptors (PR) have been detected in human astrocytomas; however, the expression pattern of PR isoforms in these brain tumors is unknown. Progesterone receptor isoforms expression was studied in 13 biopsies of astrocytomas (6 grade III, and 7 grade IV) from adult Mexican patients by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Progesterone receptor expression was observed at mRNA and at protein levels in 66% and 83% of astrocytomas grade III, respectively, whereas 100% of astrocytomas grade IV expressed PR. Almost all PR mRNA content in astrocytomas grades III and IV corresponded to PR-B. The number of immunoreactive cells expressing PR-B was higher than that expressing PR-A in 73% of the cases. Estrogen receptor-á protein was only observed in 33% of astrocytomas grade III, whereas no astrocytomas grade IV expressed it. These data suggest that PR-B is the predominant isoform expressed in human astrocytomas grades III and IV, and that estrogen receptor-á is not expressed in astrocytomas grade IV.
  • mbgyrl
    mbgyrl Member Posts: 9
    #10
    My husband was diagnosed with the same cancer can you tell me what his treatment is and how he is doing. Thanks

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