Stopping all treatment. . .

Hello,

A very close friend of my family was diagnosed with a GBM in August 2008.  He underwent surgery at that time followed by radiation and chemotherapy.   He has gone through chemotherapy including Temodar, CPT 11, and lastly Avastin.  The tumors are still present and slightly worse on his last MRI about 2 weeks ago.  Yesterday, the doctors decided to stop all treatment.  They stated that the Avastin has side effects that may cause a hemmorrhage in his brain and that it was better to discontinue since the tumors are not responding.  We are at a loss and cannot imagine just giving up on all treatment.  Does anyone know if there are other options or have you also experienced this?  Per the MD he will only survive about 2-3 months . . .I am posting this on behalf of his wife and daughter who is my best friend.  Thank you.

Hi there,

My sister was diagnosed 7/28/09 and just had her second surgery. They have given us no hope but are still offering options. I`m very surprised that they have decided that no further treatment be offered. This site is excellent so hang in there. You will recieve multiple messages offering advice and giving comfort.

Good luck :)  Marilyn`s Sisters

If you are not familiar with the story of Dr. David Servan Schreiber please go to this link  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lwiQm5QaTs

He is a brain cancer survivor.

Never give up hope!

I'm surprised too, and chilled to the bone. There ARE other drugs. There's also stereotactic radiation. It isn't available for my son because his new tumors are so deep that they feel SR would do more harm than good. But there are other drugs. VP 16, Carboplatin, even Thalidomide. Even if only for peace of mind... I'd want to keep going... Until I didn't. I fully respect a patient's right to choose when enough is enough.

Sarah

mom of Andy 27 dx gbm/pnet 1/09

If your friend is still LIVING a quality of life he enjoys... seek another doctor! There are so many things to at least try! 

Quality of life is something he or his family has to determine... not a doctor!

Blessings.

See my link below.  All cancer programs are not the same.  Find a major cancer center today.

Larry

You need to get to a proton beam treatment center.  Email Jay Loeffler at Mass General, Boston.  He will answer your email and is the most experienced...period.  Also there is a new facility in Miami.  These are complicated tumors.  Requires proton beam.  

I agree with the others. The discontinuance of treatment should be the patient's decision, not the doctors.  There are other treatments besides the ones yo've mentioned.  The efficacy of each treatment varies patient to patient. Don't let them give up on him until he's ready to give up, which is usually a quality of life issue. Your friend needs to get a bit aggressive with the doctor--or find a new one.

There are times when I think about no further treatments. I understand. BUT I will never give up. There are many new trial treatments. I am on number 6 treatment. You try and hope each might work alittle until they find one that works great. The big hospitals are working they all have clinical drugs that might or might not work. Whenever I give up I think about my family, Do I ever want them to give up anything in their lives that are difficult-imposible. I want them to kept trying and working so I must too.

Also pray alot.

Where are you?  I am worried that I am in that clinic.