Treatment for Anaplastic Astrocytoma-No Radiation

[sherylrjr]

Patient made decision to treat his anaplastic astrocytoma with surgery and Temodar only. No radiation!  What is the prognosis for this 33 yr.old male.

[NatRich81]

I am a 4 year AA survivor that had a craniotomy and proton radiation. Proton radiation treatment is targeted therapy that does not harm the good brain tissue. I’m told that gamma knife radiation is similar to proton radiation since I am aware that there are not many proton radiation treatment centers. I chose to live out of state for 6 months and I am still cancer free today with no regrowth and stable MRI’s.

[rumpled]

Glad to hear she is doing better. The steroids may have a bit of side effect themselves so if she gets a bit moody - it is the pills.

Keep us posted and we wish you both well.

[Sh2012]

She was Rx decadron 8 mg/day and after a week 4 mg/day. She was also given antiemetic. she seems to holding on. Plan is to complete radiation next week and wait 4 weeks for a MRI. Hopefully the tumor will have reduced to put off chemo. But for now she seems to be okay. Thanks for your response and support

[rumpled]

Radiation causes a lot of side effects with or without steroids. Have you spoken with the doctor or nurse about getting meds to reduce the nausea and to prevent it? I would also report the headache.

She may be due another scan to see how the radiation is doing to reduce the size of the tumors.

Any changes in symptoms should mean a call in to the office so they can tell you if she needs to come in. No one has the same course so you need to stay in close touch with the treating doctor. Please let us know that your wife is okay.

[Sh2012]

My wife, age 49  , absolutely healthy otherwise is diagnosed with astocytoma grade III. Apparently its in two places, frontal cortex and thallamus and hence surgery was ruled out. She is on  4th week of radiation [6week plan] and plan to start chemo next week. Now she is experiencing headache and nausea. She is not on steroids. Is this normal? are we missing something? What are we to expect in the near future? Any guidance is appreciated.
Thanks,
Sh

[rumpled]

There are a lot of factors in prognosis. How large and how invasive the tumor is, where it is located, how much they can remove with surgery, his health before the tumor, etc, etc...

Radiation itself is pretty hard on the body, and can cause necrosis and inflammation.

I am sure he made the decision, hopefully, after discussion with his doctors and careful consideration, decided his treatment course.