Is a Myxopapilary ependymoma cancer?

[erinmz]

We went to the oncologist today for a consultation, My husband has several myxopapillary ependymomas on his spinal cord. This particular doctor was the first we've seen that called this a malignant tumor. I knew that it grew but I thought that in order for something to be classified as cancer it had to be fast growing and invasive to the entire body. These are confined to the areas that spinal fluid flows and are slow growing. The oncologist also said that the tumors will probably eventually kill him and that there is no known "cure". He also said that the standard of treatment is to surgically remove as much as possible, then to radiate as much as possible, then treat with chemo if necessary, but none of this is proven to be a permanent solution. The radiologist said that whatever he does will basically be an attempt, because it's such an uncommon type of tumor he really has no experience treating them. I have heard prognosises of 5 years or less and as much as 25 years. Does anyone have any concrete or at least somewhat scientific knowledge of this disease, how it *should* be treated and the prognosis for these when they are recurrent (this is his 2nd time dealing with this, the first time they never mentioned that they could even come back, he had one the first time this time he has a multitude, all sizes) ?? Sorry to ramble so much lots going through my head right now : /

[SecondOccurance]

I am a 26 yr old who was diagnosed with a spinal ependymoma when i was 17.  I had it removed from surgery and at the time they didn't feel i needed further treatment.  well... 9 years later while preganant for the first time i started having those severe pains again and was mis-diagnosed with siatica.  Make a long story short?  5 days after delivering my daughter and having been brought to the ER the night before in pain, I was in surgery again to remove the same dang tumor (biopsy showed same grade, type and location).  I am now starting radiation just to make sure i dont have a reoccurance again.  As far as "survival rates" go, each type of tumor is different as far as make-up and location so it varies.  My oncologist stated that it is 5 years before you are considered "cancer-free."  Both my Oncologist and Radiologist said that with the surgery to completely remove the tumor, along with the radiation, they had no reason to believe it would return this time, considering how long I went without a reoccurance.  The first year is the hardest since if it was an aggressive tumor it is most likely to return within that first year.  I hope some of my experience has helped.