Why are the doctors waiting to start chemo and radiation?

My sister in law has the same issue. We were told we have to have the full pathology report before starting any procedure.

@brosen, I can understand your question. When you heard that your son has a brain tumor, you just want them to get moving ASAP. @choyia is right. The cancer team needs to get a full picture of the tumor to tailor the right treatment for your son and the specifics of his cancer pathology.

I bet over the past 2 weeks he's had additional testing and that by now you and the family have been told the proposed treatment plan. What is the recommended treatment plan? How are YOU doing?

Thanks for your reply. My wife and I are fully aware that Team needs to have final pathology reports in order to take the best course. We've been a bit surprised at how long the reports are taking even though we know the molecular studies take quite some time. He had his biopsy on Wednesday, July . There was a preliminary course of treatment that has him taking oral Steroids along with 30 radiation treatments. First we were told there was a final path report then we were told there wasn't and it's all a little bit fuzzy. Then, he was supposed to take his first chemo pill last Thursday night and begin radiation on Friday only to learn that for some reason they could not fit him in the schedule. He is supposed to take his oral med tonight and begin radiation tomorrow. We'll see. One fly in the ointment here is that his wife does not share Information, does not return phone calls or respond to text messages. Way too many dynamics at play to explain here but suffice to say the absence of information is a challenge to say the least.

My husband had Glioblastoma. It was inoperable but a stereotactic needle biopsy was done to type the tumor. That biopsy is considered to be a surgery, so time to heal was required before the radiation began. He waited 4 weeks for healing. The chemotherapy and radiation treatments were begun in sync to have to best impact on the tumor. While very hard to wait, we understood the plan. Tumor response to treatment was incredible in terms of shrinkage, which was maintained throughout the chemo treatments. He got some good time.

Good luck!

@ruthannray Thank you for your note. I find it encouraging. Can you say more about what you mean when you said your husband Got some good time.

@brosen Good time means he was able to travel to visit family and friends and enjoy their company. He could enjoy meals and visitors. He was physically fit and strong, able to do yard work, which he loved to do. Given that he was 86, this was all fantastic.

There did come a time when he couldn’t do all these things, but he had time to appreciate his life. Sadly, he did die 20 months post diagnosis at the ripe age of 87.

Thank you for sharing. happy for you and him for those times.