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Radiation for 70 yr old (glioblastomas grade 4)?
Good afternoon,
A friend of mine learned that her dad was diagnosed with glioblastomas (grade 4.) He is 70 years old. He did the surgery and the surgeon asked the family whether to proceed with the chemo and radiation.
At this moment, he can barely walk.
The radiation will be around 8 weeks and we were wondering what would be the benefit of it. Reading articles, it seems that for his age, the gain would be marginal and if it is to gain 3 months more but 2 of them (at the start) are lost in daily radiation at the hospital, is it worth it?
Also, we were wondering as one of the potential benefit would be an health improvement (after some potential difficult moment during the chemo) but we could not find whether or not it would be the case?
Finally, is there any benefit in doing only chemo (which consist in daily pills but can be done at home hence less demanding)?
Did anyone had this dilemma and what was their choice/guidance? Any (recent) article/research paper?
For me it seems the most important question instead of increasing the life expectancy, is the state he will be in during/after the treatment.
Thanks for reading and any help would be more than welcome in this difficult moment
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My 86 year old husband has GMB 4. Inoperable but stereotactic biopsy done on 10/16/23. He had to wait 5 weeks for the surgical site to heal before beginning radiation. Longer than we expected, but began chemotherapy simultaneously. The initial treatments were very tough, but he is doing well now, 7 months down the road. Chemotherapy is to continue beyond the typical 6 cycles because his tumor continues to shrink. No known prognosis at this point, but it’s clear he’s doing better than expected. Praying that your father has a great response to treatment!
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3 Reactionshow about asking the dr these question?
Hi how are things with Bill
my dad is doing so well.
completed course of radioitherapy, and now on chemo 5 days once a month, lastest scan was clear, hes to complete 6 months of chemo which ends next month then re-scan with 3 months off treatment .. then review.
i honestly cant believe how well he is. only problem is hes not able to drive, which he is still angry about!
hope Bill is well.
x
Things are hopeful. In October 13 months after diagnosis the MRI showed no progression in the original resection but a new deep tumor had grown on the right side. He did 2 weeks of heavy radiation and then started Avastin through immunotherapy every2 weeks. Just had MRI and the new tumor shrunk and the resection area was stable still. So going to continue the course. Only side affect from immunotherapy is elevated blood pressure which we working on with more bp meds. He still goes to the gym…walks there😊 and looks healthy. He does feel like he is more easily distracted at times but he also is stressed with aging parent issues. He too is angry about no driving, but he is alive👍🏻 Thanks for asking!
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2 ReactionsSorry for your loss... My husband (58 yrs old ) is going through stage 4 gbm and is unable to have the tumor removed since it is on his motor strip and speech.. he almost died from complications from a brain biopsy Feb 2024... . he is now on chemo pills and IV treatment.. MRI every 3 months.. last one showed tumor smaller and is stable... so at least that is something....I feel like my support from my family is lacking the communication and think our families are unsure how to talk about what happened.. idk ...I hope and pray my family and friends reach out to me.. maybe they are all afraid to show feelings,.... I will continue to keep you in my prayers.. stay strong...
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2 ReactionsI wish you the best. 58 is young. I am sorry you both are going through it. It is such a horrible thing to deal with and I think you are correct. People either don’t know what to say or don’t want to face their own mortality. I cried all the time the first two years after he passed. I am somewhat better now as far as the crying goes. I still cry every day but much shorter outbursts now. I hope you try to enjoy every minute with him that you can. Don’t argue about things. Be as supportive as you can be. We had our arguments over the years like all couples do but after he was diagnosed I never got upset with him because it wasn’t going to help matters. I tried to be as cheerful as I could be with him every day.
I have a bunch of photos of him during our 25 years together but I don’t have many videos. I wish I had taken more videos of him. I took several during his time in rehab after the surgery but I wish I had taken more during our more happy times.
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1 ReactionThank you for the kind words.. I don’t argue anymore about anything with him and try to always cry not around him.. we have a 27 year old Son and 25 year old daughter with a 4 month old baby.. Monday Jan 27 we will be married 30 years .. I married him after 3 months of knowing him.. he’s the best thing that has ever happened to me.. 20 years in the military which I believe gave him this cancer.. I cherish everyday with him and don’t know what I will do without him around .. I am 48 so it’s going to be hard but I know I will get through it.. hopefully treatment will work and we have years together… never in a million years did I think this would happen.. life is just strange sometimes..
It is strange. I never thought I would go through what I did either. It is hard not having him around. The loneliness is the worst part. I have had others tell me the same thing. And I thought I knew what grief was until he died. I have lost both parents and some friends and coworkers over the years. All of that grief combined doesn’t compare to this grief at all.
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