paraneoplastic syndrome

What is the long term prognosis for paraneoplastic syndrome?    My sons wife needs 24 hour a day care .    He is tring to do it and work from home.    But we would like to have some fall back position for him - he cant even go to a caregivers meeting.    She is in her 40's.    Thanks.


This discussion is related to Re: paraneoplastic syndrome.

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Thank you very much for your question; although it is quite difficult for me to give you a precise opinion here without getting the opportunity to examine her, though I would try to provide you some relevant information about her health concern. Paraneoplastic syndromes are the disorders that can be originated by an abnormal immune system response to any cancerous tumor. These syndromes occur when white blood cells (known as T cells-fights with cancer cells) erroneously attack normal cells in the nervous system and are most common in individuals with lymphatic, breast, lung and ovarian cancer. Neurological symptoms may include slurred speech, memory loss, vision problems, sleep disturbances, dementia, sensory loss in the limbs, and vertigo or dizziness, difficulty in walking or swallowing, loss of muscle tone, loss of fine motor coordination, and seizures. Generally, there is neither any cure for the condition nor there are any available treatments to stop progressive neurological damage. Only the stage of tumor at diagnosis determines the outcome. In the treatment approach the tumor is treated first, in addition by efforts to decrease the autoimmune response through steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and irradiation. I would recommend you to see a neurologist who can evaluate the details of her case and could better determine the insight of her situation.  Hope this helps. Take Care & Regards.