My father is 57 years old, the doctor diagnosed brain cancer in the form of oligodendroblastoma, undifferentiated. Can this disease be cured? How long can my father live? (Minh, Binh Duong)
Reply:
Brain cancer is a malignant tumor that develops in the brain, including two main types: primary and secondary brain cancer (due to metastasis from other places such as the lung, breast, colorectal...).
Depending on the location, size, and nature of the tumor, brain cancer has different symptoms and levels. Benign or malignant brain tumors have the ability to affect the patient's health, leaving many sequelae.
Whether or not brain cancer can be cured depends on many factors such as physical condition, age, stage of the disease, tumor location that can be surgically intervened, treatment regimen suitable for the patient...
Your father was diagnosed with oligodendroglioma, undifferentiated, one of the slowest growing gliomas, often found in the frontal lobe.
The size and location of the tumor in the brain can cause different symptoms. Some common symptoms include headache, vomiting or nausea (not related to gastrointestinal disease), double vision, blurred vision or loss of vision, difficulty walking or loss of balance due to weakness in the limbs or muscles. menstruation, behavioral changes...
Brain cancer often has symptoms of headaches. Image: Freepik
Diagnosis of glioblastoma is mainly based on brain MRI (magnetic resonance) scan and brain tumor biopsy. Based on factors such as physical condition, comorbidities, nutritional status, pathology, tumor grade, spirit and wishes of the patient, the doctor will recommend an appropriate treatment regimen. Some possible methods include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and radiosurgery.
According to statistics from the American Cancer Society in 2020, the 5-year survival rate for brain cancer patients varies according to the nature of the tumor and age. With glioblastoma, the 5-year survival rate for patients 20-44 years old is about 76%, 45-54 years old drops to 67%, and over 55 years old, the 45-year survival rate is only about 5%.
However, the patient's survival rate also depends on many other factors such as age, health status, mental state, ability to respond to treatment methods...
You and your family should encourage and accompany your father throughout his treatment journey. Depending on the condition, the doctor advises and chooses the optimal treatment method.
Dr. Nguyen Chi Thanh
Department of Oncology, Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City
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