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Questions posted in the
Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
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Subject: Re: Ignorant Primary Carer of Brain Tumor Patient Mother, 73 had 5 sessions or radium treatment for a secondary tumor in the eloquent area of the brain 4 weeks ago. An exceptionally active lady, since treatment she has no energy what so ever. I understand that there would be tiredness but she hardly moves from a chair except to go to lie down. She will not read a book, crochet or even watch t.v. Conversation is too much effort. She has no pain, is a little vague and has difficulty writing her name with any vigor. Is this a normal reaction to radium treatment or do you think she is suffering from a big depression? My heart is breaking. I don't know what to do to help her. We have been on a medical conveyor belt for 7 weeks as one doctor has passed us on to another for the next step in this nightmare. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ it is not entirely clear from your posting where the tumor lies, there are many areas of the brain described as eloquent, in this cintext the term does not only describe speech it refers to any part of the brain where a defect is clinically very obvious. If this is in a speech area or in the frontal lobes speech difficulties, mutism or apathy are all possibilities. The possibility of depression as you suggest is however a very strong possibility in the circimstances, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you have this possibility excluded by a psychiatrist as it is relatively easily treated and treatment could make your mother feel a great deal better. This sound too extreme to be a reaction to the radiation therapy so you should explore other options aggressively, I cannot obviously give you a label here, but strongly urge you to give her the benefit of an opinion from a psychiatrist. |
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