A new Mayo Clinic study found that patients with low-grade gliomas survived longest when they underwent aggressive surgeries to successfully remove the entire tumor. If safely removing the entire tumor was not possible, patients survived significantly longer when surgery was followed by radiation therapy.
“This study is exciting because it shows how well glioma patients can do after surgery – an average of 15 years tumor-free is better than any previously published results,” says Nadia Laack, M.D., a Mayo Clinic radiation oncologist and lead author of this study. “It is also exciting to discover that patients can benefit from radiation therapy. It not only lengthens the time before the tumor comes back, it actually improves the length of time people live.”
This study is now available online as an advance publication in Neuro-Oncology.
Dr. Laack describes the study and current treatment options at Mayo Clinic:
My friend has a grade 4 glioblastoma and he is 53 yrs old. He has has it removed and is now on radiation and chemo–pill. They give him 8-18mths to live. Is there any other answer or help available? He is having his treatment in Pittsburgh in one of the best oncology units possible…but that is not enough for us…he is way to precious for us to lose him so early..please give me anything we can hold onto..
Dawn A
Dear Dawn,
Your friend has a more aggressive brain tumor than what is described in this article. There are many factors that determine prognosis in glioblastoma but age and your friend’s overall health and function are some of the most important. We do see a few patients who are alive 4 and 5 years out after their initial treatment and they are generally people like your friend who are young, were able to have aggressive surgical removal of the tumor, and are in good physical shape after surgery. It sounds like your friend is being treated with the current standard therapy. However, we feel that all patients with glioblastoma should be treated on clinical trials since even standard therapy is not usually able to provide a cure. Encourage your friend to ask about clinical trials in his area or contact a larger cancer center that has clinical trials available.
You can view clinical trials available at Mayo Clinic at: http://clinicaltrials.mayo.edu/clinicalTrialSubTheme.cfm?subtheme=Glioblastoma%20Multiforme
Sincerely,
Nadia N. Laack, MD MS
Assistant Professor
Radiation Oncology
Mayo Clinic
Good day Dr Laack,
I am in South Africa, my brother, 48, has been diagnosed in Canada with: Solitary right hemisphere lesion in appearence typical of a glioblastome Multiform. The mass mesures 56 x 26 mm.
He is meeting the neurosurgent tomorrow. He is normaly a man with a good health.
Will the Drs also go for surgery and then is radio. of help to him.
Are there any chances that there is something else?
He is so young!!!
Thanks a million and keep well.
My wife had an Oligodendroglioma, grade 2, removed from her left temporal lobe about 4.5 years ago by Dr. Meyers at Mayo. The surgery was done “awake” and was considered a maximum resection. To date she shows no signs of recurring tumor growth. Much thanks to the surgeon and staff at Mayo.
However, she has had extreme emotional difficulties since surgery. Especially the first 3 years after the operation. She’s better now but has some loss of memory and cognitive function. Prior to surgery she was a successful Real Estate agent but her impairments don’t allow her to function at that level any longer. We’ve had no success finding a doctor in our area (Kansas City) that understands her post op condition and how to treat it. She still has emotional swings and some small seizures each month even though she’s on Depakote. These seizures seem to occur primarily during or near ovulation or menastration.
Have any of the other patients of Mayo, with a tumor removal from the left temporal lobe, reported such emotional problems post op?
Thanks,
Gary
We are learning more and more about the different functions of each part of the brain. We certainly have seen memory and emotional problems after removal of specific portions of the temporal lobe. There are some medications that can help with mood stability, memory and attention. We generally recommed formal neuro-cognitive testing to identify the areas that have been most affected and base our medication recommendations on those results. Generally patients who are interested in this would be seen by our Neuro-Oncologists (neurologists who specialize in brain tumors) and be referred for testing by them.
dear sir,
>
> i m a brain tumor cancer patient.i have consulted many
> doctors here
>
> in pakistan but there is no such progress yet.therfore i
> kindly need an
>
> apponitment from ur hospital. thanking u in anticipation,
> saleem khan
I’m sorry I wasn’t notified of this posting sooner. If you are still in need of an appointment please go to the following site and click the link for international patients.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/patientinfo/appointments.html
dear sir,
We are cameroonians and we cannot expect help from our governement as we were told that we need to evacuate her my sister who is suffer=ing from an ear tumour.Being from a poor home, the family is since then gathering money and also looking for the cheaper way to evacuate and save her life.sir i would be grateful if you can help be me to be in touch or give me the contact of any clinic that can estime the cost of such an operation in south africa.
time is running an we are planning to evacuate latest march 2010.
thanks in advance for your concern and extend my encouragements to your entire staff
Thank you for your comment. Please go to http://www.mayoclinic.org/patientinfo/appointments.html and click on the link for international patients to request an appointment. For the Minnesota location, you can also call 507-284-8884 or e-mail Intl.mcr@mayo.edu.
Pingback: Glioma Treatment Study « Mayo Clinic News
Pingback: Glioma Treatment Study | Mayo Clinic News
My son has just been diagnosed with an astrocytoma brain tumor. The doctors say that it is too deep in the brain to operate and he will be receiving cemotherapy and radiation. It is small. He is 53 years old and in good health. What is the prognosis? Do you have other treatments to offer? He is going to be treated at St. John’s in Oxnard, Ca. Do you know anything about how good the treatments are at this cancer center?
A concerned mother. Ann
Thank you for your comment. We will have a reply soon.
If any one experienced with the below subject or comments, please let me know , I have to take final decision for my mother.
According to Dr. report she’ve with HII-9710 GLIOBLASTOMA MULTIFORME.
“Next Generation PDT (NGPDT Global Ltd.) has developed a uniquely effective Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) method for the treatment of cancer. The combination of an improved new generation photosensitizer which selectively accumulates and identifies cancer tumour tissue with advanced methods of light activation of the agent, is a paradigm shift in the ability to safely and effectively treat solitary, metastatic and advanced cancer.” (LINE FROM WEB SITE)
Dear Sir / Madam,
My mother has a HII-9710 GLIOBLASTOMA MULTIFORME.
and she is 65 yrs old. She has it removed and next 12th Sep’11 onwards radiation and chemo–pill will be started. They give him 8-12 mths to live. Is there any other answer or help available? She is having her treatment one of the best oncology units possible…but that is not enough for us…Please find the discharge summary & please please help us…
DISCHARGE SUMMARY
Name of the patient : Ms Krishna Sengupta
Age / Sex : 65 / F
Date of admission : 30.08.11
Date of Surgery : 30.08.11
Date of discharge : 08.09.11
Consultant : Dr. S. Ghosh, M.Ch(Neuro)
Diagnosis:
LEFT PARIETAL GLIOBLASTOMA MULTIFORME KARNOFSKY PERFORMANCE STATUS SCORE 60.
INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE.
Surgery:
LEFT POSTEROTEMPORAL CRANIOTOMY AND PARTIAL EXCISION OF TUMER ON 30.08.2011by Dr. S.Ghos, M.Ch.(Neuro) at Appolo Specialty Hospital, Chennai, India.
HPE Report:
HII-9710 GLIOBLASTOMA MULTIFORME.
History of present illness:
67 years old lady presented with occasional headache since 4 days & weakness of the right hand since 10 days which progressed to involve the whole of right upper limb and then the right lower limb. There was also involvement of the face. There was no h/o vomiting, slurred speech, and diplopia. There was no h/o bladder and bowel involvement. No history of co-morbidities.
On Examination:
Pulse = 86/min,
BP = 120/70 mmHg,
RR = 22/min,
Temp = afebrile,
CVS, RS, Abd = NAD
CNS
Higher functions = GCS – 15/15, sensory inattention, Speech was slow but fluent, Right handed.
Cranial nerves = PERL 3 (+)
EOM = Full
Fundus = Could not be visualized, B/L pseudophakia
Others = Rt, UMN 7th NERVE PALSY
Motor System = Power – 1/5 in right side, 5/5 in left side. // Tone – Right sided spasticity.
DTRs = ++ in left side, 3+ on right side
Plantars = flexor on left side, extensor on right side
Sensory system = Grossly normal
Gait = Could not be tested
Cerebellum = Normal
Spine = Normal
Course in the hospital:
On admission, clinical evaluation and necessary investigation were done, CT scan brain plain and contrast showed left peripherally enhancing SOL with minimal mass effect and perilesional edema. The nature of the illness and the need of surgical intervention were explained to her attendants. After preoperative evaluation, fitness from Cardiologist and consent he was taken up the following procedure.
Operative Procedure:
LEFT POSTERO TEMPOROPARIETAL CRANIOTOMY AND PARTIAL EXCISION OF TUMER.
Findings:
Ill defined, grayish yellow moderately vascular soft suckable SOL with cyst containing yellowish fluid.
Postoperatively she developed urinary infection. She was treated after getting culture and sensitivity report. She had Bronchiectasis and bronchiolitis for which she was referred to pulmonologist. Drain was removed on POD 3. She was treated prophylactic antibiotics, analgesics, antiepilepties, steroids and other necessary medications. She was mobilized gradually. The HPE was reported as glioblastoma multiform. Sutures were removed on POD 7, Post operative CT scan was satisfactory. She was advised to undergo chemoradiation at her local center.
Condition at discharge:
Conscious, GCS – 15/15, ambulant, taking solid food, right sided weakness improving with physiotherapy, surgical wound healthy.
Advice:
• Normal Diet
• Physiotherapy to continue at home
• Chemoradiation to be taken at home town
• Tab. Eption 100mg 1-1-1 to continue
• Tab. Dexa 2 mg 1-1-1 to continue till radiotherapy
• Tab. Cremalx 10mg 1-0-1 for 1 week
• Tab. Dolo 650mg 1-0-1 for 1 week
• Tab. Pan 40mg 1-0-1 for till radiation therapy is over
• Syp. Sucrafil 10ml twice daily till radiation therapy is over
• Oral glycerol 30 ml 1-1-1 to continue till radio therapy is over
• Tab. Lasilactone 25 mg 1-0-0 to continue till radiation therapy is over
• To review with Doctor after 3 months.
We are sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately, we cannot diagnose conditions, provide second opinions or make specific treatment recommendations through this correspondence. If you would like to seek help from Mayo Clinic, please call one of our appointment offices. We have attached this link to our appointment desk. Thank you. http://www.mayoclinic.org/patientinfo/appointments.html
Dear Sir,
Thank you very much for your response & as mentioned link appointment request has been done however I have all the soft copy of reports & latest scan & if require I am ready to submit.
My brother-in-law was operated on twice to remove brain tumours. Apparently there is no other treatment available for him. He is being sent home and will need around the clock care. How long should we expect him to live? We were informed that he will sleep alot and not wake up one day. My sister (his wife) wants him at home. She is really worn out and we are worried more about her now that we now that there is no hope for my brother-in-law.
Thank you for your eply.
Maureen
My brother-in-law was operated on twice to remove brain tumours. Apparently there is no other treatment available that will help him him because he has had everything available for his illness. He is being sent home and will need around the clock care. We were informed that he will sleep alot and one day will not wake up. My sister (his wife) wants him at home. She is really worn out and we are worried more about her health now that we know that there is no hope for my brother-in-law. How long should we expect him to live ? He is only 51 years old.
Thank you for your reply.
MY COUSIN SISTER IS A VICTIM OF BRAIN THERAPY how can we overcome this problem.rediotherapy and kemotherapy and gamma knife surgeries have already done….