Do Not Want To Go For Whole Brain Rt

My dad was disgnosed with stage 4 Lung cancer in Feb 2008.

The cancer has spreaded to his brain and we are not very keen to send him for whole brain Radiotherpay fearing of short and long term side effect.

He had a stroke in July 2007 and this is also one of our reason for not wanting him to go for Whole brain RT. Afraid that more harm will be done to him.

 So we are now at a confuse stage as to how to tell the doctor as she insist my dad must go for the RT and also do not know whether our action is helping him or making him worse.

By the way, does cancer also spread to Gum? cos' my dad complains that his gum is in pain.

- Biopsy in Feb 08 (followed by procedure to remove air in his lung)

- RT to his back on Mar 08

- Procedure to drain off fluid from his lung

- still feeling pain, breathless and numb....

He is suffering and we don't know how to help him.

Thanks.

  

usually side effects from whole brain RT do not become difficult issue until at least a couple years down the line, and there are increasing ways to deal with late term side effects such as certain medications and also hyperbaric oxygen.  for immediate purposes, if there are multiple tumors in different parts of the brain, whole brain RT is probably the best way to go.  If there are only a few tumors in one or two areas, you could consider seeking opinion from a radiation onclogist who uses gamma knife, which targets only tumor and spares normal healthy tissue.

Donald,

This is a hard decision, that must be made ASAP, by your father, yourself and your family. I can see ya'all's concern here. I have extended small cell lung cancer. I was Dx with it, in Dec. of 07.'  My lung cancer had already met. to my liveer and bones. After having completed 4 chemo therapy sessions, my CT/ PET scans, I was told that 'all' my cancer cells had decreases a ton. I was asked to go ahead and do 2 more chemo treatments. I finished doing them, and I am in a holding pattern for now. This is just until I have cataract surgery (one eye for now) done on myself. After this surgery, I can start my new therapy, of using a chemo pill every day for 2 weeks, then I'll be off them for a week. I am not due for more scans until the end of June.

 I have read on this site and other sites, about how successful these brain procedures, to zap away cancer cells have been for said patients. I have only come across one person who had a bit of memory loss, after having this procedure done. But, things were being done for this patient and they said it has not really been a problem for the family and the patient. 

I am not a Dr. of course. I can only speak for myself, here. In doing so, I must tell you, if it were me having to make such a decision for myself????  Well, I would do it. I would tell them to make sure they get it all out of there. That gama knife sounds pretty good to me, and not as avassive, either. In any event, I would research this a bunch, before I would allow it to be done on me. But, I'd make  my decision as quickly as I could. When it comes to the brain, one shouldn't wait too long. I mean,  on deciding what way they desire to handle their care. 

 Good luck, friend. May God give ya'all the strength that ya'all will need,  to handle all that is put  upon ya'all to do. 

 

God Bless & Take Cre,

Rosie

Savannah, GA.