Astrocytoma tumor in the brain

My son, also 23, soon to be 24 has a Grade 2 Diffuse Astrocytoma. Parts of the tumor suggest Grade 3 Anaplastic Astrocytoma. My son had a seizure on 6/14/05, surgery in November 05, completed 6 weeks of radiation in February and is on his 4 round of Temodar. He's doing pretty much everything he did before except drive and is anxious to drive again. Although he has been on dilantin since June 05, he missed a dose and had another seizure towards the end of October. He has just starting to get sick from the chemo but is doing really well. How are you doing now? Are you still in the wait and see mode? Would like to know how you are doing.

Paul's Mom

God bless you, one and all ! My Beloved Husband Don, has been diagnosed 6/06 with stage 3 astrocytoma.
we will be having Surgery 6/29 followed by radiation. I have Loved hearing what little positives there are on this subject matter ! If Any one can beat it he can! He is a very strong hard working 52 year old He has 3 drilling rigs and 100 head of cattle between the two He is working all the time!! Intill his seizure on 5 /20 /06 the biopsy kicked him down a bit and recovery from that was and still is s l o w...
Dilantin keeps him sleepy it seems but just the last few days he had more strenghth Enough to go to town and send off the mail or stop buy the 7-11. then he is wipped out and takes a nap! This is all so crazy he feels FINE !!!!! just tired !!!! the biopsy was so hard on him because it took them 5 hours of him being "under" to get the Biopsy . Because it is SO Firm ! the team of specialists have never seen anything firm like that before and it was tough to get a biop. I just wanted to post somthing and get a word out to you all I have and will pray for all of you. I also wanted Ed to post again So we all know he is still surviving If he doesn't reply we will all just assume that he is so cancer free that He doesn't even think about it any more ! God bless you one and all kick butt and take names ! look at the word cancer the first 3 letters are C A N Not e a s y But CAN ! You can kick it. it's just a heck of a battle !
Gods blessings to you all Cherratina (with the best hubby in the world !)

Hello everyone, I am still alive. Just celibrated my 4th year of betting brain cancer. I have been going through some tough times lately. My oldest brother died in noveber with a heart attack. getting over that we were embraced by the marine corp that we lost our son over in iraq. So time has been pretty hard and that is why I have not been on line.I am glad your husband is doing well. Just keep the positive thought have fun and live every day to the fullest. Just think positive and enjoy every day together. I no it is tough as me and my wife went through it. But it is not over you just have to pray and hope for the best. Like I said just keep thinking positive and thy to have some kind of fun with it while you are here on earth. You know, ennjoy the time with your loved one the family, grandchildren and freinds. Just rejoice every day you have and make the best of them. I know I do. Sometimes I think that is what keeps me going. Till later take care and god be with you. ed from bullhead

thank you for your reply . I am so sorry to hear of your losses. Please think positive, and stay well
Gods blessings to you and yours
Cherratina

Dear Ed- Am so very sorry for your profound losses. I have gone back to this site and reread your inspiring comments time and time again and have prayed that you are surviving and thriving. I will now pray for your continued ability to cope with these tragedies.

I wrote several messages back as my brother was diagnosed with stage 3 astro. He is now on his 5th round of the 5 days on 2 off of temodur. I now in remission!!!!,and we are rejoicing! Never dreamed we'd have this time. Wish I could give him some of our enthusiasm.

Keep the faith - God bless you!

berty

I wish that every thing is going well for everyone that I have been in contact with. I am doing well. I hope everyone who has a family member or friend with cancer is doing good. Keep thinking positive and take it day by day. If you can think positive hopfully you can beatit. I do understand that sometimes it is to far goon but you have to think like I did. The doctors only gave me 6 months to a year and low and behold I am a 4 year surviver. I am also a commitee member with we care cancer which is with relay for life, amrican cancer cicioty. Last year for the relay for life we rased 65,000 dollas. well I have to go but I pray for everyone and may god bless you in the way he has me. Cncer is tough sometimes you can beat it and other times it is to far gone. But I say what ever the circumstances may be just try to live every day to the fullist. gog bless you and you are in my prares. ed from bullhead

My daughter has a Grade 4 anaplastic astrocytoma. It is located in her thalamus. It is inoperable. She has done radiation for 42 days, and now she is finishing her 8 month of chemo. Temodar and CCNU combined. It has been tough. Her last MRI showed no change in the size of the tumor. However, it is not growing. She is such a beautiful little girl, and such a fighter. It is so hard to see her going through something so hard. If anyone has any information on an astrocytoma located in the thalamus and how treatment went for them please email me. She goes for her last MRI for the clinical trial on the 6th of September. I'll try to remember to put an update on the website. Thank you for all your messages. They have really inspired me. Susan

I was wandering how your mom is doing. My daughter is also fighting a grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma. She lost the use of her right side. She was diagnosed 13 months ago. We just finished the second phase of her treatment. How is your mother's treatment going? If you have any questions you can email me at --- Message edited by CancerCompass staff: for personal protection, email address removed. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html ---- My thoughts and prayers are with you.

My mother's tumor grew with treatment. It was actually a grad 4, GBM. She died on November 20th, 2004. Thank you for your prayers. I will pray for your daughter. She is young and has a much less aggressive tumor. What I learned from my mother's illness is that tomorrow is promised to no one. Live for today and enjoy it to the fullest. And, most importantly, love transends death. God Bless.

My mother (61 years old) was also diagnosed with Astrocytoma grade 4 last October. The tumor was 2.9cm November 28th she had Gama Knife surgery (radio Therapy), The tumor came back to the same size by Early February and we took her to Memorial Sloan Ketering in Manhattan for surgery. The tumor then cam back again and in April 13th my mom went through with yet another surgery. In late June an MRI showed the tumor back again and the surgeons at Memorial decided no more surgeries, they gave her 1 dose of chymo CNU and sent us home. It has been almost a year now since her initial diagnosis and she is on Hospice home care. Memorial Sloan Kettering www.mskcc.com has so much information on alternative medicines available and trials, My Mother's Neuralogist was Dr Nolan and her surgeon was Dr Gutin both great doctors. Unfortunatly in my Mom's case it was too late to do anything. Good luck, you will get through this.