Hi Liz,

I am so sorry to read your post. I am not one for obscenities, but in
times like this...!!

A few similarities with Bruce, and the fact of both having a not so
good outcome after 2nd surgeries.
I know that Bruce has all but said he would not want a 3rd resection.
I hope your Neuro/Oncology consult went well today, and you have a
couple of action plans, but will keep my fingers crossed and pray that
Marks neutrophils improve.
I know in the States they often talk about a shot of "Neulasta" for
low counts?
I have told Bruce your news, he says to pass on his best wishes for
you both and is thinking of you, as we both are.

take care
Linda




--- In nzbraintumour@yahoogroups.com, "methompson" <methompson@...> wrote:
>
> NZ Brain Tumour SupportHi Everyone
>
> Mark and Liz here...Mark with his AAIII tumour since Feb 1994...
>
> But now looks like he is heading into round 3 of his battle/our
battle - the latest scan shows the tumour has grown back - with
significant swelling as well.
> So that's pretty tough - but we were pretty much expecting this. We
will see a visiting oncologist (from Palm Nth) on the 1st of October -
and start to organise what happens next...
> Mark is also under Dr Muthu who visits from Waikato Hospital - a
neurosurgeon - and he will probably want to operate to do a bit of
debulking.
> We are not sure if, in view of the dangers of debulking, whether it
would be worth operating at all! After Mark's last surgery and
biopsy/debulking in Auckland 3 years ago, he had a cerebral
haemorrhage and was really ill and incapacitated.
>
> So maybe we will ask to forego surgery and go straight to chemo. We
are thinking of trying BCNU chemo again - as it had a pretty good
effect last time with 2 1/2 years remission... or use Temodal - we can
sort-of afford paying for it ourselves - as Mark's life insurance has
now been paid out (after the recurrance 3 years ago) - though losing
some of it in finance company collapses is not entirely helpful!!!
>
> Mark is having to take 3000mg of Epilim as well as quite a bit of
Dilantin because of increasing numbness and lack of awareness of where
his right arm is. He is having a bit of trouble with conversations and
reading and a lot of trouble writing...thoough he is still keeping fit
- ran his favourite 18 km track the other day - over the nearby hills
- though he admitted it was rather a slow jog!!!
>
> His white cell count has been a bit low too - maybe too low to
manage taking many rounds of chemo - so that might be a problem. His
white cells (esp neutrophils) are low because of bone marrow
suppresion caused by high amounts of Epilim and Dilantin - but he
needs to keep taking these!
>
> So it might be a bit of a rocky road ahead...but we are (mostly)
staying positive and I continue to be amazed at how well Mark has done
in spite of his illness. Its great to know you guys are with us
through all of this too...
>
> Love you all heaps
>
> Liz and Mark
>