Tuesday 22 June 2010

22 June 2010 - Phone call from Claire Goddard, Clinical Nurse Specialist

Claire called to discuss what was said at the MDT Meeting. The imagining results were reviewed. It was agreed that although the lower grade components of the tumour had remained the same size, there have been subtle changes to the higher grade areas of the tumour. The meeting had discussed surgery as an option for further treatment. Mr Kay, the Neurosurgeon we have seen previously, said he needed to study the scan results in detail to decide whether surgery was feasible. If so, he would remove as much of the tumour as he could and insert Gliadel Wafers in the part of the tumour he could not remove.

Wafer implants are a new way of giving chemotherapy for brain tumours. The wafer is made of gel that contains the chemotherapy drug. During brain surgery, the doctor places up to 8 wafers in the space where the tumour was. Over the next few days, the wafers slowly release a chemotherapy drug called carmustine (BCNU) into this area. The wafers dissolve within 2-3 weeks after being put in.

If Mr Kay says surgery is a possible option, Deb has to make the decision that she wants to proceed. Not an easy decision!!!!

No comments: