Hello out there...
My wife is a 15 year survivor of an originally low-grade Glioma Astrocytoma (since 1991), and then had a 2nd biopsy in 1999, which had complications, resulting in her emergency surgery to relieve the hemorhage and elective surgery removing better than 50% of her tumor in the lower left occipital region where visual language skills are at risk--she had no apparent loss of functions during surgery (we are truly blessed). Less than 1 month after her healing she took on 6+3 weeks of radiation therapy which she managed very well despite temporary hair loss and fatigue.
During this entire period we raised our 2 boys with a happy full family life and low-level anxiety fading into the background, especially since the surgery in 1999 (where the resected tumor had been graded in ranges of 1-4, with overall ave rating of 3). This past summer 2006 she had recurrent tumor growth. Our excellent team at GWU MFA here in Wash DC referred us to NIH for 2nd opinion on treatment therapies. We also sought another 2nd opinion at Johns Hopkins Univ (Tumor Board).
The consensus recommendation is to choose among 2 basic strategies--
A--Take on Temador for 2 cycles (approx 8 weeks), leaving downstream options for Avastin or surgery, or other targeted therapies; OR
B--Resect/Debulk tumor and then follow-up with Temador chemotherapy (with added risk of loss of visual/language functions)...
My wife would rather not take on surgery at this stage and is hopeful re the prospects of taking Temador orally, with minor side effects anticipated by DRs at NIH (no hair loss and little to no nausea with Kytril anti-nausia meds). We are still waiting to here back from our primary care team re their final recomendation soon.
IF THERE IS ANY ONE OUT THERE who has had a similar experience I would like to hear from you just now. I appreciate anything you might share. Thx
Very Respectfully Yours, Lovenhope