Advice

My mom's cancer is back..In Feb. 2003 She was diagnosed with a grade3 Glioblastoma tumor in her brain they did surgery and everything was fine until Oct. 6,2009 Her tumor is back and they say it is incurable,inoperatable and they cannot treat it! They are sending us to Cleveland Clinic! Does anyone have any advice on these tumors? Or What to exspect next? We are lost!

Interesting that the doctos say incurable, inoperable and cannot be treated, but they are sending her off to Clevelnad Clinic.  So apparently it is treatable.  Cleveland Clinic is another very good facility.  They will do whatever can be done for your mom. 

GBM's are grade 4, there really isn't a category of grade 3 GBM.  Perhaps it was a grade 3 astrocytoma.

The word incurable doesn't mean The End.  I think that understanding this is the source of any possible peace, hope, or comfort for GBM patients and their patients. No, it isn't possible to CURE a GBM. Something will always be there, whether they do radiation, chemo, surgery, vaccines, or electro treatments like the novocure (which is at the Cleveland Clinic, by the way). And that little something all too often seems to grow or start up new tumors.... (It's breaking my heart on a daily basis.) BUT many cases seem to be managed for some very deeply appreciated lovely long lives.

Hope your mother will be one of those who get to go long! No one knows what will work for each person so just see if you can find something!

Stay positive if you can, and give your mother all that love. :o)

Sarah

mom of Andy 27 dx gbm/pnet 1/09

So sorry to hear that your mom has had a recurrence. Many people have recurrences and live for a long time. I don't like contradicting other's posts but it is my understanding (from Duke) that there are other grades of GBM's -- 2 and 3, actually.  Cleveland Clinic is a very good facility, especially for those with a recurrence.  Is there a treatment that your mom's doctors are specificially looking for at CC?

We are all praying for you. Hang in there.

Holly

Thank you very much! I have been researching and reading all over the internet! And I was directed here thank god because this is so confusing! Last time was scary enough and it would have been 6 years in feb. for remission! I just hope and pray when we get to cleveland we can get some type of answers! The only thing differnet with this one that scares me is they keep mentioning fingers going into the brain! I am lost with this diagnosis and confused!  Thank you for responding and god bless

I think the CC has a thing called AutoLITT which is amazing. It's a probe that goes into the tumor and with heat destroys it from the inside of the mass. If you google it you can see a movie demonstrating how it works.

Sarah

I have heard about that, as well, Sarah. It was on one of the news shows in February -- when we are at Duke for Steven's surgery.  CC is a great place for recurrence.

 H