Growth Hormone treatments

[TexasDad]

My daughter who lives in Orlando and is now 12 was diagnosed with a brain tumor 1 year ago last June. It was on the pituitary and hypothalamus. She underwent chemo from July to December. I drove back for the first treatment and flew in for all but 2 of them. I also flew in and stayed with her for the open brain surgery to attempt to remove it. During surgery, all they found was scar tissue and samples came back benign. All MRI's have been clear as well. She underwent radiation until mid march.

I was recently told that her mother is pushing to start growth hormone treatments immediately. I was told by Neuro surgeon, Endocrinologist, radiologist and oncologist that it is not something they would consider starting until at least one year after final treatment which is mid March. Mother is pushing for this in less than 5 months. I called and put a stop to this as I was told not to take any chances in waking the tumor this soon after since the treatments are purely cosmetic.

Now my daughter is mad at me because of what her mother and new stepfather tell her. At least she will be alive to be mad at me.
Was I wrong in doing this? Is it not safe to start treatments so soon?

[horselip]

There is a nice group called the Human Growth Foundation
Here is the link. They are very helpful!  http://www.hgfound.org/

They also have a support group for parent of children with growth hormone deficiency and the moderator is very knowledgeable in this area.
http://www.hgfound.org/act_pedssupportlist.html

I suggest that you check them out so that you can make an educated decision about this in conjunction with your wife and child's endo..

I frankly don't think that it will hurt to wait a few months. BUT growth hormone has been very beneficial as part of my treatment plan for me. But no, I would not want to take it if it would add a huge risk of recurrence.

If it were to add a small risk (say 5%), it would be worth the benefit for me as it adds so much to my quality of life, particularly to my mood.

Good luck
Horselip

[rumpled]

If your daughter is 12, actually the treatments are not really cosmetic. growth hormone while the name says growth, actually has more functions and some are very subtle like sleep and some are more real like muscle growth and bone growth.

The social stigma of being different at this age can also have lasting effects - so if she starts to lose a lot of height and gets behind her peers, she may lose friends. It sounds shallow - but it really hurts and it does happen. It is just that age group.

However, if she is hypopit - will not go in to puberty - there should not be a hurry from a medical point of view - it is the onset and end of puberty where the bones fuse and then she cannot grow anymore. So there are a lot of factors here from social to health. Plus now growth hormone is given to adults - I take it.

I put a link to the magic foundation in the health pages - you and your wife can contact them for more information - it is not an easy question with easy answers. Your daughter has a pretty tough road ahead.

[testdeprived]

oops ur a dad sorry.

[testdeprived]

is she ur daughter or another woman;s im confused.....