Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs about brain tumors, answered by experts in the field.

Brain tumors & choosing a cancer center
My cousin is affected by a brain tumor and is now under treatment at the European tumor center in Milan. We're looking for another center worldwide specialized in the treatment of such a tumor. Could you give your suggestion answering to this address please let me know if you need further information's to give your opinion. Thank

Brain Tumors, High Tension Wires and Other Risk Factors
Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My husband died of glioblastoma multiforme. Is there a link between this disease and exposure to the high tension electrical lines under which he worked? Robert Lustig MD FACR, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, responds:There is no confirmed link between

Temozolomide for Brain Tumors
Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My friend has very recently been diagnosed with a grade 4 Glioblastoma. She begins radiation therapy (XRT) next week on a palliative basis. Is there any evidence that the use of the drug Temodar (temozolomide) would improve her survival, and if there is, what would a course of this drug entail? Robert Lustig MD

Brain Metastases from Lung Cancer
Question A good friend of mine was recently diagnosed with brain metastases from his lung cancer, adenocarcinoma type. The neurosurgeon said to him that surgery is the treatment of choice for his case. He was also seen by a radiation oncologist who claimed that radiation therapy is just as effective as surgery. Could you help him? Answer Li Liu,

Small Cell Lung Cancer Metastasized to the Brain
My mother was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in January of 2001. She has been through Chemo and radiation and the tumor in her lung did shrink to approx 1 1/2 cm. She was doing well, went back to work part time. In November, she began to have tremors. I took her to the Emergency room where we were told that she has 4 tumors on her brain.

Glioma

Treatment for Optic Nerve Glioma
Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," My son has optic nerve glioma of his right eye. His doctor suggested that he should get proton beam therapy. Unfortunately it is not available in my country. Please let you know how this problem can be treated. Thank you in advance. F Eric Shinohara, MD, MSCI Radiation Oncology Section

Glioblastoma

Treatment for Glioblastoma Multiforme
My friend, aged 38, is suffering from glioblastoma multiforme for the past 2 years. He has undergone surgery, but the cancer in the brain could not be totally removed. Recently, he was diagnosed as having fluid accumulation in the brain and had another operation to remove the fluid. X-ray could not find the tumor anymore. The doctor has

Hereditary Brain Cancer and Glioblastoma Multiforme
Dear OncoLink, My mother has recently been diagnosed as having a glioblastoma. I wonder if you could suggest a source for information regarding genetic causes. I had an uncle die from the same tumor eight months ago. Can you make any suggestions? With Kind Regards, DS Nancy J. O'Connor, RN, MSN, CRNP,

Treatment for Glioblastoma multiforme
Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My brother has Glioblastoma multiforme and my research shows that it does not react well to chemotherapy and that he has approximately 10 months (median) to live. Are there new medicines? bone marrow transplants? Is he better off to not go through the radiation and chemotherapy after affects? Please help. What

Development of Glioblastoma Multiforme
Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," Our 16-year-old son died after being diagnosed with an astrocytoma; however, the autopsy confirmed GBM, or Glioblastoma multiforme. His only symptoms were headaches. Do GBM tumors start out as astrocytomas and then progress to GBM? How long would it take an astrocytoma to form into a GBM? Christopher Dolinsky, MD,

Glioblastoma multiforme
Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts," My grandfather was diagnosed with Glioblastoma multiforme last August. He had as much of the tumor removed as possible. I am researching possible treatments to prolong his life. He’s been on radiation and chemotherapy. His oncologists have stopped chemotherapy and all other treatments. I’m confident that