Ogliodendroglioma

On 4/15/2008 stressedwife wrote:

I'm new to this website.  My husband was diagnosed with a ogliodendroglioma April of 2001.  He is now 38 yrs old.  June of 2001 the removed the front left lobe of brain along with tumor.  Followed by external radiation.  In our home town, we were told that chemo was not a option, we decided to go to MD Anderson for 2nd opinion.  MD ordered chemo to be done in our home town.  After completion of chemo in July 2002, the tumor did not change until July 2005, at this time we went to LSU in New Orleans and had the gamma knife performed.  Again it stood still for about another year.  August of 2006 we returned to MD Anderson to be told that they could try surgery but the risk were to great for us to take the chance.  April of 2007 started a down hill spiral.  He is still somewhat ambulatory.  We have 4 children ages 17, 15, 12, & 8.  Either I'm home or one of the two oldest children are always home with him.  The seizures are starting to increase.  We have been told we are heading toward the end.  This was a very viable man 7 yrs ago.  He worked in plant building tanks for the government.  He fished, hunt and worked on motors.  He still did some work on motors and other things until a year ago.  I was shocked on how fast things went down after 6 yrs of almost nothing.  I guess my question is does anyone out there have any other information on treatment options or just some moral support.  We live in a small community and people try to understand, but it is hard when they haven't went through it.

commend you on your courage, and my family and I will pray that the Lord

gives you strength and even more courage. As a brain cancer patient for going on eight years, I can tell yo that the support from my spouse and my children has allowed me to make it this far. I often find myself asking God, "Why me, and why now?"  There is a new medication that is apparently the leading chemo drug called, Avasten. It's expensive, but it is covered by most medical plans. After a few weeks of searching, I found that the best clinics to go to are Uof C San Fransisco, MD, and the Mayo clinic in Arizona. I was told by my oncologist that I could have Gamma Knife to my brain more than once, you may want to check on that. With doctors, you sometimes have to use an agressive approach in getting what you want. I have had to terminate one of my oncologist, due to lack of my best interest. You can use you weight more if you have a private medical plan, but you are at the mercy of the goverment if they're paying for it. Let me know if you would like any other information, and I will be happy to help.

Love those kids,

Chad A. Sears