Here's a copy of the first radiology report on Paul's MRI. It's still not a final report.
FINDINGS: Seen again is a large ring enhancing lesion in the left temporal lobe compatible with patient's diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme. Extensive surrounding increased signal on PD/T2 weighted images compatible with vasogenic edema is again present. Tumor appears somewhat increased in size from the previous exam particularly in the coronal axis. It previously measured approximately 3.5 x 3.2 cm in greatest coronal dimensions and currently the enhancing portion measures approximately 4 x 4.5 cm in greatest coronal dimension (series 5, image 7). In addition there is increased effacement of the left lateral and third ventricles as well as increased rightward shift of midline structures of approximately 1.2 cm.
No additional lesions are identified.
IMPRESSION: Interval increase in enhancing portion of the tumor size with increase of local mass effect as well as midline shift.
Renette's note: series 5, image 7 is a view from the back of the head.
My uncle Arthur, who's a doctor, called last night and said he would recommend we go with a clinical trial. He said everything he's been reading indicates that the new drugs have a lot of promise. I had already been leaning in that direction, and last night Paul said I should go ahead and tell Dr. Nicholas that's what he wants to do.
I sent an email to Dr. Nicholas this morning saying that if he gets access to the thalidomide trial right away, that's our first choice. Otherwise, we'll take either the BCNU with O6BG if they have an opening Oct. 6, or the CPT-11 with Taxol if they're up to high enough dose. If none of those work out, we'll see if there is anything at U of I in Chicago, since we can probably get a referral there from Paul's HMO Illinois primary physician.
Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers.
Continue to: Oct. 8, 1998
Return to: Diary of a Brain Tumor Patient's Wife
Created and maintained by Renette Davis. Send comments to Renette by clicking here.
Created: May 31, 1999
Last updated: July 20, 2010