It's been a while since I last posted, my mum was diagnosed with GBM end of Feb and quickly after had surgery. We later found out that the surgery wasn't able to take much of the tumour out, and we saw this reflected in her symptoms too - mainly leg weakness. Steroids have helped and as is typical we see vast improvements on the steroids and then quite quick declines when reduced. She was offered only 3 weeks of radiotherapy and no chemo alongside that, despite them saying she had the type that may respond to it. She is newly 61 and was otherwise fit and healthy until her diagnosis. Does anyone have an understanding on what makes them offer 3 vs 6 weeks of radiotherapy and why they wouldn't have offered chemo alongside as is typical. She has just finished her 3 weeks of radio and has tolerated it quite well, they now aren't going to do anything until they scan again in 6-8 weeks. The realist/pessimist in me feels like the decline over those next two months will be so significant that she won't be physically well enough to take on anything else. I'm curious if anyone knows the reasoning for such things? My mum doesn't really ask questions to the medical team at all, she's happy just doing what they recommend.
HI ICH501
lovely to hear from you again.
Steroids are a necessary evil at points during this journey and its incredible how big an effect a tiny tweak to the dose can have. In my experience with G its all about getting the balance right. Remember the dose can go up and down and that's fine. Drs don't like them on too high a dose for too long as it can cause other issues like steroid induced diabetes.
With regards to the treatment, the best folk to ask are your mum's medical team. I understand that she doesn't want to know but at the risk of being blunt, you need to know what's going on and stay close to it. This is a rollercoaster journey and the more facts you have, the easier you actually make, despite the fact that you might not like what you hear.
It's very easy for the person with the diagnosis to just go along with what the dr says. G was the same and further down the line actually came to regret some of the choices he had made earlier in the journey.
sending you love and light and strength
Wee Me xx
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