Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Neurology Community
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
Steroid use for brain tumor swelling
by Twocapes, Apr 26, 2008 08:50PM
Briefly, my husband had a benign meningioma removed surgically in 2004 with no radiation post surgery. After discovering a regrowth, he had Cyberknife radiosurgery peformed October 1, 2007. Swelling has developed around the tumor causing a partial/focal seizure with aphasia on 12/25/07. He's been on Keppra, 2,000 mg and Decadron starting at 8 mg/day since January , 2008, and slowly weaning down to 2 mg/day presently. The Decadron wrecked havoc with his body and he is finally starting to feel better but not completely. An MRI done last week showed no tumor growth but no decrease in the swelling plus he's had minimal increase in neurologic symptoms which comes and goes. Are there any other medications to decrease the edema around the tumor? Will the swelling ever decrease?
Thank you
Thank you
Post Comment
Peritumoral oedema (Swelling around the tumor) is a well known complication of the the surgery performed in brain tumors and coticosteroids like dexamethasone (decadron) are generally the first choice drugs to control the oedema, and the oedema resolves in a few weeks in most cases.
However, in your husband's case, the oedema has not resolved even after being on therapy woth decadron for a long time. Please consult your doctor, and ask for a change in treatment as persistent oedema can lead to an increase in the intracranial tension (pressure inside the brain) and cause problems. Maybe a dose change of decadron or the use of some other alternative agents like hyperosmolar solutions of sugar, urea, mannitol, or glycerol may help.
Best..