Astrocytoma grade 2 but very large

Shirley,
I am very sorry to
Shirley,

I am very sorry to hear about your husband's recently diagnosed low-grade Astrocytoma.

I also have a Grade 2 Astrocytoma (that I also didn't know about until I had a seizure), and the tricky thing about it is that no two doctors agree on a particular course of treatment with this type of cancer.

Astrocytomas are in the glioma family of tumors, and at a grade 2 doctors feel it is not worth it to make a patient deal with chemotherapy and/or radiation. After my first surgery to remove the tumor (which was also how they determined its grade) I was advised to "do nothing".

Within three months of my surgery the tumor started growing again, and I had to have another surgery to remove more tumor. Even though the tumor was acting more aggressive the pathology remained the same (grade 2).

Now my doctors are treating me with chemotherapy as if I had a higher grade tumor. Fortunately, MRIs show my brain is responding well to this treatment and I do not need radiation.

Your husband is going to go through a variety of emotions. It is hard to go from being an independent adult to someone who needs to be taken care of. I think it is important that you learn about the area of the brain affected by your husband's tumor. The frontal lobes are responsible for emotions, planning, movement, and some speech. Until he heals and goes through therapy a lot of his behavior is expected to be erratic at this time.

If you are patient and loving he will make it through this.

Hugs,
Liz

shirley_l said:

Thank you Liz
Thank you so much for responding. The first Onocologist we spoke with while he was still in MUSC said that he would recommend full brain radiation followed by chemo. I am so scared about the full brain radiation. Everything I read is really disheartening. He is not a candiate for surgery. The tumor in the left is way too big, and he also has a smaller one on the right side. They were totally expecting it to be at least a grade 3, so were really surprised when the results came back. The doctors said if it would have been small, that the surgery would have been a posibility.

We were vacationing in South Carolina when his seizure came on. They ended up medivac'ing him up to MUSC in Charleston, SC. We live in Florida so I finally got him home in a subacute rehab center. We are going to Orlando to MD Anderson Cancer Center this coming Tuesday for a consultation to see what they suggest, and then will go from there.

Shirley,
I hope all went
Shirley,

I hope all went well with the appointment at MD Anderson.

Take care,
Liz

njcal59 said:

In-operable level 2 tumor
My husband was also very recently found to have a very large in-operable level 2 astrocytomas tumor, gliomatosis cerebri. It completely consumes the left side and also part of the frontal right lobe. It also presented itself by a seizure on June 21,2009.
After having a biopsy done to confirm the diagnosis, he was seen by a radiation oncolgist who talked about the possibility of full brain radiation. This doctor wanted to consult with the head of the department and with my husbands other oncolgist. They have decided against the radiation for now, and are going to do chemo. We are waiting to hear information on one last blood test before the chemo starts. The test which determines if the #1 and #19 chromosomes are being deleted. Oncolgist says if they are, then he will probably go with an oral chemo. We will find out Oct 12th. Right now I feel like our lives are up in the air and things seem to be going so slowly.
I hope and pray that your husband responds well to the radiation. Please let us know how things are going or if he is given any other options.

My Husband has the same kind of brain tumor
njcal59 Hi! My husband was dignosed with a astrosytoma grade 2 tumor 4 years ago and it was inoperable! We live in Michigan and 4 years ago he had a seizure in the car and thats how we found out he had a brain tumor. We went to Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minn. where we stayed in Hope Lodge for 8 weeks while he had raditation everyday as well as chemo pills my mouth! It has now been 4 years on Oct.2nd and they did see alittle change in size so he has gone back on chemo for the next 2 months and then we go back to get another Mri in Jan. to see how it looks again! The radiation that Mark had did shrink his tumor by about 65 to 70 percent. How is your Husband doing now? Did he get radiation? Please let me know how things are going! I know it is an emotional roller coaster at times but stay positve! and keep talking to people that are in the same situation you are. It helps!

livefortwo said:

I have the same type
I had my tumor removed on Jan 13th 2009. Still going through recovery, I do get tired and sometimes feel doomed. How do you get through each day without thinking about the what if's? I'm a youn mother of two young kids and I need to bo around for many years to see them grow. I have a great family and I'm greatful. I had surgery done by Dr. Black whom is known to be one of the best. No further treatment is advised at this time just follow up MRI's. That is scary to me it's like waiting around.

Any adivice?

Hi livefortwo,
I was
Hi livefortwo,

I was diagnosed with astrocytoma grade 2. It was removed by surgery 3 weeks ago. The Dr. did not recommend any other treatment except a follow up MRI in 2 months. I am a little worried as it looks like wait and see method. I also have 2 kids under 6 years old. So, I like to live many years to see them grow. I was just wondering if this wait and see is a good option. I will appreciate any input from anyone. Hope God heal all of us from this disease. All of you will be in my prayers. Thanks

johngiustino said:

book suggestion
I would read Ben Williams book "Surviving "Terminal" Cancer" immediately. I was diagnosed with GBM last October and the book was recommended to me but I did not pick it up until recently - much to my current regret. There is a lot of information in there on ways you can help yourself as well how to better understand/work with/direct your oncologist. I should have also gotten to a specialist in neuro-oncology sooner, while my general medical oncologist has been helpful, it has taken me awhile to realize that she is not an expert in the field and has little to offer than the standard therapy. It is all very overwhelming but definitely take the time to educate yourself and get other opinions. I was also too private about my situation - I had a lot of people offering to help me look up information, but I did not want them to know my diagnosis. Take whatever help you can get.

Best of luck,
JG

neuro-oncology
I agree you need to go to a specialist. My sister has GBM we found it in Feb. We got a great radiation oncol, but they hooked us up with a general oncol Doctor. He hasnt done anything.He let her run out of her chemo. Lucky that she is on top of things. We are looking for a new doctor. I really feel like he just doesnt care because of the "no cure" thing. How is your treatment going? Did you have it removed? Wishing you the very best.