I am Susan and new to this ....
I took my 73 year old husband to the emergency room due to rapidly declining memory loss. The hospital performed a CT scan where they saw a small mass near his pitutary gland . MRI and Lumbar puncture was performed as well. Once they were able to do a biopsy
to cofirm their suspiscion of PCNSL, they immediately started treating him. His body could not take the 2nd cycle of methotrexate, he started going into Kidney and Liver failure. He was discharged from the hospital when his organs were stable.
The next course of treatment was as an outpatient, reeceiving rituximab and cytarabine for four
cycles. He received an Mri at the end of the last cycle which revealed that the tumor was gone.
My husband has not been able to make any medical decison in regards tohid trearment.
Our adult sons and I decided to proceed with ASCT. The journey as my husbands care giver started 8 months ago. He is currently in rehab to build up his strength after the ASCT. The treatment was rough on his body.
He is very weak, does not eat much and is very depressed.
His short term memory as well as some long memory is not there. He will be discharged soon from the hospital
where he will receive in home rehab.
I do question myself, wether we made the right decision with the treatment. My husband was not in the best of health prior to the diagnosis; long time smoker, workalholic never exercised. I never did reach out for a 2nd opinon, which I regret. MD Anderson was only 3 hours away. Sometimes feelng alone and overwhelmed.