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Surgery risk for a 65-year-old male with glioma grade II?

Posted by kddjgong @kddjgong, Mar 12, 2018

Hi all, a relative of mine is 65 year old. Eight month ago he was diagnosed with glioma grade II through MRI. (Back then he was nauseated and taken to ER.) He has been on anti-seizure since. It appears that the medication has the control, as he has no other symptoms other than occasional dizzy. he is able to drive and perform almost all regular activities without challenges. But doctors consider him a high risk patient, because of (1) his age and (2) glioma 's size / location. A lot of homework was done, including communicating with neuro-sugions and neuro-oncologists (in Mayo and outside). Different opinions were given on the treatment plan. Mayo seems more aggressive and suggests resection, whereas another medical team in other (also quite prestigious) medical center strongly suggested biopsy followed by chemo+radiation because of the high risky level in operation.

I wonder if there are any similar situations on the Connect. If yes, how was the risk taken into consideration prior to surgery? I have seen many discussions on treatment after resection, but couldn't find the risky operation itself. Are there any occasions that the patients were permanently impacted / paralyzed due to resection?The family has been debating over months long on taking resection or not... Any inputs are greatly appreciated.

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nancye3 | @nancye3 | Mar 19, 2018
In reply to @spangles "Listen carefully to what may happen if the tumor is removed. I had a diffuse astrocytoma..." + (show)
@spangles

Listen carefully to what may happen if the tumor is removed. I had a diffuse astrocytoma grade 2 removed from my left cerebellum in March 2017. It was discovered (but called a cyst or low grade unidentified growth) 20 years earlier but my doctors said not to worry about it and did not check it again until 2017 when I began getting dizzy and dropping things. I am sure surgery saved my life, but my life isn't all that great because of the location of the tumor and the damage done by surgery and radiation. I've lost my standing and walking balance and left side coordination of my arm and hand, and my eyes won't focus. I can't drive or do the art work or gardening I once did. My head is extremely sore where they did the surgery. I live 2,000 miles from Mayo and can't seem to find any local medical professionals to help me.
Would I do it again? Ask me in another year. My advice is to get multiple second opinions to try to determine what will happen if you do nothing, and how you will function after surgery, radiation, and chem takes at least a year of your life. Good luck.

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Was your surgery at Mayo? So sorry for all you have had to go thru. Wishing you quality of life and better times.

REPLY
jkenser | @jkenser | Mar 20, 2018
In reply to @spangles "Listen carefully to what may happen if the tumor is removed. I had a diffuse astrocytoma..." + (show)
@spangles

Listen carefully to what may happen if the tumor is removed. I had a diffuse astrocytoma grade 2 removed from my left cerebellum in March 2017. It was discovered (but called a cyst or low grade unidentified growth) 20 years earlier but my doctors said not to worry about it and did not check it again until 2017 when I began getting dizzy and dropping things. I am sure surgery saved my life, but my life isn't all that great because of the location of the tumor and the damage done by surgery and radiation. I've lost my standing and walking balance and left side coordination of my arm and hand, and my eyes won't focus. I can't drive or do the art work or gardening I once did. My head is extremely sore where they did the surgery. I live 2,000 miles from Mayo and can't seem to find any local medical professionals to help me.
Would I do it again? Ask me in another year. My advice is to get multiple second opinions to try to determine what will happen if you do nothing, and how you will function after surgery, radiation, and chem takes at least a year of your life. Good luck.

Jump to this post

I'm so sorry you're having so many issues. I can tell you it has been 15 months since my surgery and I'm still not 100% and may never be, but I'm alive and for that I am so grateful. I've talked to several people that have gone through brain tumor removal and they say it takes about 2 years to really start feeling like yourself again. I will keep you in my prayers for complete healing xoxo I'm happy to hear that they were able to remove your tumor.

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