Total Brain Radiation

Is anyone out there that can tell me about their experience with total brain radiation?  Side effects?  How long did the side effects work?  How effective was the radiation? 

 Any information would be appreciated.  My mom is 60 years old and just finished two weeks of brain radiation and she is experiencing some side effects that are scaring my sisters and I.  She had no short term memory whatsoever, she is having trouble walking, severe fatigue, barely talking, etc.  Did anyone else have the same experience?

 Thank you,

Jennifer

My mom had 15 whole brain radiation treatments and finished last Friday.  She is now on Tarceva.  Unfortunatley her lung cancer has metasized to her brain all before we ever knew she wassick.  She was diagnosed June 7 or so. 

She has many of thesame things you are posting about, no energy, she trembles, she has very little ablilty to balance herself when she stands up, she has to steady first.  She eats, but says everything tastes the same.  I think all of these are true to radiation, I am praying that she will begin to feel a little better and maybe your mom too.  My mom is not cureable and I am so very sad and cry everytime I type it.  I only wish there was something to do about this horrible disease. 

I have read about many supplements and she has tried a few, but she is just so tired and dosen't feel like doingmuch at all.  My stepdad  got the doctor to get her some Provigil to herlp make her more alert, but we don't see much diffrence.  Her short term memory is just like you said too.

I will pray for you and your sisters and mom along with my mom.

take care

brenda

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for responding.  I'm terribly sorry about your mom.  I will pray for her as well.  Please keep me posted on your mom's condition and I will do the same with you.  I think it would be good for us to compare notes. 

The doctors had told us that these are the side effects that could be expected of total brain radiation and that they should subside withing 4 to 6 weeks.  They said that when the radiation kills the tumors, it is customary for the tumors to expand before they die.  Hopefully this is what is happening with my mom.  Have you heard anything similar from your mom's doctors?  Also, where is your mom being treated?

 Good luck

Jennifer

We are in Macon Georgia, where are you guys? I have not actually heard the doctor say how long it would take for the effects to wear off.  I think my concern even more is, if and when they wear off, then what what next, will she be okay for a month or two, then go down, I am so sick, I am like you the worst thing I ever heard in my life was "your mom has cancer".  I am afraid eerytime something hurts or anything, it has consumed me.  My mom just looks so bad and i truly truly hate it. 

I am at work, and even though, I still can't stop thinking about it all day long.  I was over there last night and she had fallen down two times during the night before, straight down on her tail bone she got disoreinted, I guess when she was coming out ot hte bathroom. my stepdad was awaken by her calling out and the thud he heard when she fell.  I just sit on pins and needle.  I am sure you know exactly what i mean.

I hope you get some good news in the near future and please keep in touch

Brenda 

 

We're in New York City.  She's being treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering.  I know what you mean.  This is a normal part of life, parents don't outlive their children but at 31 years old, I don't think that I should have to deal with this.  I'm not ready.  I'm in a fog at all times and I don't know if I am over-reacting.  My mother was fine when they found the spot on her brain CT scan.  She walked with a cane but that was because she had hip replacement.  She was just told that she was in remission.  Then they found this spot - they called it "Sprinkles".  They said that she was extremely lucky and they found it very early, but I dont feel lucky.  She was fine two treatments into her radiation.  Then she started to have trouble walking - I was told that was the tumor expanding, which is what they do before they die.  I was told that this is normal and is what would be expected.  Then she started having problems with her short term memory.  I was told this is normal and should start to subside 2 - 3 weeks after radiation stopped.  I just have to keep telling myself that my mom was OK before she started radiation and this is just the effect of the radiation.  She finished with her treatment on Monday the 16th, so its just been a week and a half.

 I worry too about what is next, but when we consulted with the radiation oncologist and she said that she wanted to do total brain radiation to make sure that there are no cells hiding out, my sister had asked her if the radiation doesnt kill the cancer, will it help to shrink it?  The doctor just replied, "Oh, no - it's going to kill the cancer".  I'm trusting this doctor. 

Is your mom eating well and drinking alot?  Is she on any other treatment?  My mother has been very weak lately, and the visiting nurse has told us that she seems to be dehydrated and that she needs to drink more.  That the chemo isn't going through her body quickly enough and that could be causing some of her weakness.

Please let me know how she progresses.  And your family is in my prayers. 

Jennifer

How fortunate you are to have the big hospiatl there in NY we are not so fortunate here in Macon, although there is a caner center in Atlanta.  I do not mean this the way it is going to sound, but I think mom may have a "worse stage" of cancer  or whatever you call it than your mom , and I am glad for you.   When they diagnosed mom they said that she had 8 tumors in her brain and there was no cure.  They are not even treatingthe tumor in the lung, (the original site) and I need to find out why.  They doctors are not very informative, excet the oncologist, he is very understanding and kind.  But he still told my stepdad 6 mos to one year with no treatment and not sure how long with treatment.  But after reading so many success stories I wonder, heck they are not God!  How can this be so??  I wanted to go and get another opinion, but we have an onc, neuro spec and a rad onc, btu I wonder if they confer.  That is the benefit of where you are in NY. 

Mom is eating and drinking she said everything tastes the same, but she is doing okay inthat regard.  The main thing I am thankful for inthis whole crappy situation is she is not in pain.  like headaches or anything.  She is inpain where she fell on her butt, but that is to be expected.  the visiting nurse comes to her home and checks vitals and stuff, but mom is sort of not wanting "them " to come allthe time.  My stepdad is an hour away at work too, so this is frustrating.  Is your dad around and able to help at all?  

I will certainly keep you guys in my prayers too.  I strat out every morning driving to work praying for all of the people I have come in contact with through this. 

Brenda       

 

I am a 68 yr old male with kidney cancer which metastasized to the brain (one small tumor which was removed surgically on Feb. 13, 2007.  Following that, I was offered WBRT.  I was very sceptical about it, but my oncologist said do it so I did -  40 Gray in 20 sessions in March.  The actual treatments weren't so bad, but the side effects afterword aren't pleasant - hair loss, ear drainage, tearing, & especially an awful mouth taste.  Nothing tastes good and I have lost 40 lbs. Took 2 courses of Sutent afterward so no one knows for certain if it was the radiation or the drug. Have been off Sutent now for 3 weeks and nothing's changed. Will be off it another 3 weeks - then we should know for sure. If the radiation  killed any small unseen tumors in the brain, we'll never know.  WBRT is becoming less popular as new radio surgeries become available.  Mine was a precaution against new tumors.  You may have had a larger dose for primary tumors.  Good  Luck!