Maybe not a tumor?

The doctors have conferred, and the prognosis has changed somewhat. The last doctor apologizes for "hitting the panic button" as he put it. The latest explanation is that this kind of brain swelling does commonly occur 3-9 months after radiation treatment. So just because there is swelling doesn't mean there is a tumor. However; the doctor does think there is some tumor mixed in with the post-operative healing (scar tissue) and radiation damage.

The plan is still to send him to MD Anderson. The expectation is that he will undergo a 'fancy' MRI that can distinguish scar tissue from tumor from radiation damage, etc. Basically, it should show exactly what is going on.

Your thoughts and prayers are still needed and appreciated...maybe they can turn this panic-button into good news down the road.

Sorry about the ups and downs on this. Sometimes I wonder if I should wait to post news and in that way even out the ride a bit.

He is feeling better

His Mom is with him now. He feels better now that he has been given steroids to knock down the swelling in his brain. He seems to turning more positive emotionally, but still isn't up to visitors. He is glad his Mom is there.

He wasn't surprised too much by news of the tumor coming back. He knew he didn't feel right again after he had felt good most of the summer, but the doctor kept telling him this is 'normal' and part of the healing process.

Clarifications

The MD Anderson Tony will go to is in Houston, TX. Hopefully he will have his surgery within two weeks. The doctor is recommending him for experimental post-surgical treatment since the tumor has overcome the standard treatments.

He has been withdrawn from school for this semester at least.

The tumor is back

The neurosurgeon says the tumor has grown back aggressively and is about 4x4 cm. He also sees significant swelling, and doesn't know why the other doctors haven't seen it. He is getting Tony an appointment with MD Anderson and says he will need surgery (the tumor is deeper in the brain this time) and probably needs to get in an experimental program. Sherri is leaving tonight to be with Tony. Tony is staying in the hospital. Sherri's parents are there. So is Randi.

I don't know anything else.

Headaches still

Tony continues to have headaches frequently, but they are in different spots instead of always in the same spot like before. He has also had 2 or 3 times when he thought a seizure was coming on, but it did not. All of this is since the increase in his anti-seizure medication.


He is seeing the neurosurgeon tomorrow to talk about what is going on.

Update from the Neurologist

The Neurologist says the proprioception event over the weekend isn't a surprise. The medication he is on takes time to ramp up when dosage changes, and it wouldn't have ramped up enough to have had any real effect yet. It will be a week or two before the increased dosage is fully functioning. He also said Tony's headache isn't unusual considering the time since his surgery and the significant increase in activity that college demands.

Some symptoms over the weekend

Tony said he had another brief episode of proprioception (what I was calling numbness) in his right arm on Friday, and a headache over the weekend. We have encouraged him to contact the doctor again.