CancerCompass message board discussion started by ramblinwreck on 6/30/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25555,0.htm Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ My father was diagnosed with rcc and had a nephrectomy in March of 2005.  He is very tight lipped about lab reports and treatments.  Lately he has had frequent fainting spells and at times has slurred speach.  He has had two episodes severe enough to go to the ER.  The doctor there just calls it a brain event.  My question is what are the general symptoms of rcc brain mets?  I just have this gut feeling that that is what is goin on.  He gets results on an MRI this week and I may hold him at gun point to get the truth from him.  Can anyone shed some light?  He also has mets in the lungs and pancreas.  Things don't look good and I don't know a damn thing. Help. ramblinwreck Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT I'm 5-yrs into RCC and have a long saga of operations and radiation treatments and chemo therapy. I'm 60 yrs old and understand your father's need to protect his family from a continuous stream of bad news that often goes with this disease. I have two children in their twenties and have found it distressing telling them the latest bit of news as it has usually been bad. However, by being more open with my friends and family I have grown closer and been able to express my love for them even more. The last 12-months has been very hard for me but I have enjoyed my time with my family more than ever.My advice is to try ways to get your father to open up more to you and understand that you love him and want to be with him through the bad times as well as the good ones. Keep finding ways of making the most of your time together.Keith  KeithRobert Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thank you for your reply.  He is beginning to share a bit more.  He is 69 and I am the youngest (and geograph closest) son.  He went for treatments today and they refused him because the white count was too low.  The "brain events" are what worries me.  He said the lower part of his jaw and chin were numb today.  the nurse attributes it to the treatments.  He regurlarly has "fainting spells" and they sometimes involve slurred speach and trouble keeping his balance.  The oncologist today did not comment on the MRI and deffered to the neurologist (that he does not see till 8/5).  I just can't shake this gut feeling that it has moved into his brain.  He already has mets in lungs and pancreas.  The brain mets would be just insult to injury.  I hate to be all doom and gloom, but i am detecting a turn for the worst in his health and spirits.  My poor mom has this and her mom in a nursing home (alzheimers).  I have  2yr and 10 month daughters.  The whole cycle of life is unfolding at one time.  I just wonder if the symptoms I am describing sound like anyone's experience whith rcc mets to the brain? ramblinwreck Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT I cannot help you on these symptons but from my own condition I know that these signs are not good. Sometimes the medics can do no more. We are left to make the most of what time we have with our loved ones. With his advanced mets the medics have no cure but treatment may extend his life some months. I would not worry too much about the cancer but focus on taking the pain away and spend quality time with your father.Keith   KeithRobert Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT What your are describing can definitely be symptoms of brain mets.  Depending on the area of the brain effected you could expect to see many different symptoms.  A few weeks ago we found my mother also had brain mets with absolutely no symptoms other than dizziness.  I'm surprised the oncologist did not reveal results of the MRI... or perhaps he did and your father isn't telling you???My mom had three lesions and received stereotactic radiosurgery (gamma knive).  It is a one time intense radiation zap to the lesions only and is done on an outpatient basis.  She also has mets to lungs and bones.If you dad has a problem telling you directly about test results you can also ask if he would sign consent for you to just talk to his doctors directly.  I make sure Mom signs consents wherever we go so I can also discuss her case with the doctors.Best Wishes,Texas Lil TexasLil Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT My husband was diagnosed with RCC and mets to brain in May 2008.  His symtoms were forgetfulness, weakness in legs, dizziness.  He finally fell down and was too weak to get up...ER did scan and the mets were quickly found, then the tumor on kidney.He is fine as long as he takes his dexamethosone...they tried to wean him off and brain swelled again, I knew this because he had total personality changes, became paranoid...he had radiation treatments but it still swelled...we find out this Tuesday if more radiation is needed or if anything can be done.  I worry about him being on the steroids for so long.   kayt4austin Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT HiI'm Edie from whitney, tx my husband has rcc (8/2002) lung met (11/07) and now a single lesion brain met (8/08) he too had the srs.  How is your husband?  Is he still on the steroids?  Gman (my husband) had the srs and continues on the steroid therapy but still has brain swelling and many bad symptons from the steroids and swelling.  The Neoursurgeon is going to remove the dead lesion they call it a shell on 11/6.  Please share anything you can that might relate to my husband's condition.Edie    EC HERE Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Keith:Hi my husband Gman dx Rcc left nephrectomy (8/02)  right lung met removed (11/07) and now single brain met (8/08)  he had srs and is on steroids for swelling. the mri showed the lesion was dead and he has no active cancer any where but the dead lesion (shell) is causing the swelling with many bad side effects.  Now they want to remove the shell brain surgery 11/6.  Can you share any experience with the brain mets? The Neurosurgeon says the swelling is not unexpected but he can't continue on steroids and getting off steroids may cause the swelling to go to the rt side of his brain.  EC HERE Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT