[carz]

HI I guess this post is directed to experienced oncology nurses who can give me some needed answers. A friend of mine has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor the size of a grapefruit, this person also has a mass on the kidney and a mass in the throat not yet diagnosed. The neurologist states that if the kidney mass is malignant then he will not be able to operate on the brain ca. Can anyone explain this theory to me as I do not have a background in oncology. Also this person had skin melanoma removed 2 years ago (I am not sure of the location) but no follow up was ever given after removal. THe neurologist seems to think that follow up could of haulted a lot of this. Any answers or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[BarbPick]

It is metastatic disease. If it is in the kidney brain and I forgot the other place, it is a poor prognosis. They will do the best they can to lower the tumor burden, in English that means they need to do salvage care, try to keep the tumors from growing larger as a maintenance, and also if possible use radiation to lessen the tumor burden (which means make the tumors smaller. The problem with brain cancer is only one chemotherapy can cross the brain blood barier, and that is called BCNU or carmustine. Fr the other tumors that have spread, they can use other chemos which might be effective. They use something called adjudent therapy. That is combining 2 of three methods for salvage, not cure. The three methods are chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, The tow of the three they will use will be chemo and radiation. I have seen salvage therapy that ends up being cures. Best of luck , send your loved one my best, and hope
Barbara

[BarbPick]

spelling correction adjuvent therapy is a better spelling.