22 years old soldier brain tumor

My husband of only a year was recently diagnosed with a rare brain tumor after surving in Afghanistan for 11 months. He has been undergoing chemo treatment and has had 3 operations. The tumor is already growing back after a month. The doctors have told us to make him comfortable and hospice will be making the pain go away. My husband is with it, he is not stuck in a bed unable to speak, he still functions! He has a sarcoma brain tumor. Does anyone have any ideas?

Hi.  Have you checked out any clinical trials?  My husband also had Sarcoma that started in his leg and spread to his lungs and brain.   He passed away on January 1st, but he had over 13 mets to his brain.   There was a trial in Bethesda, MD for a drug called Nelfinavir, which is currently used to treat Aids.  It is being done by the National Cancer Institute and they pay  a lot of the expenses, including travel.

I spoke to the Dr. running it and he thought that it would break the blood brain barrier and that sarcoma was one of the cancers that they were hopeful about.  Unfortunately it was too late for my husband; he was being treated for his symptoms with decadron (a steroid) and which he needed to keep the swelling down, and Nelfinavir could not be taken with steroids.

Also, was there ever any mention of CyberKnife surgery or Whole Brain Radiation?

Good luck.

 Brenda

On 11/27/2007 Elanor wrote:

My husband of only a year was recently diagnosed with a rare brain tumor after surving in Afghanistan for 11 months. He has been undergoing chemo treatment and has had 3 operations. The tumor is already growing back after a month. The doctors have told us to make him comfortable and hospice will be making the pain go away. My husband is with it, he is not stuck in a bed unable to speak, he still functions! He has a sarcoma brain tumor. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

I am very sorry to hear your news. Warriors can accept a bullet, but we have to ask ourselves why something like this?

I served 23 years in the Army, my last year in Afghanistan. I returned from Afghanistan in one piece only to learn a few weeks ago that I have synovial cancer (spindle cell) of the right ankle and most likely will have to undergo a below the knee amputation. The tumor is to encompassing to be able to attempt limb salvage. I will find out next week if chemo and radiation will be a part of my treatment plan. Fortunately, for now, it has not spread.

I have been asked if there is any Afghanistan "correlation" to the onset. To hear that your husband came back with it (as well as others Ive heard about) makes me wonder if there really is some link. The filth, the radiation, or something else? I was healthy as a horse until my return.

My heart and prayers go out to you and your warrior husband. Perhaps we should start asking some questions.

God Bless