The Lucile Packard Foundation’s newsletter and other sources have issued data regarding Anaplastic Medulloblastoma. Laurie J. Vaughn in her article “The Dark Realm of Brain Tumors,” discusses cutting-edge discoveries regarding the horrific illness of Anaplastic Medulloblastoma.
What is Anaplastic Medulloblastoma?
Anaplastic Medulloblastoma is an undifferentiated tumor (anaplastic) in the head or brain (medulloblastoma).
The problem with the tumor is that it often grows without the knowledge of the person who has it even though it is often been present since birth. Now doctors have a way to preliminarily classify the tumor.
The difference between a medulloblastoma and other brain tumors is that it actually infiltrates the brain’s fluids; it doesn’t let the border of tissue stop it when it spreads. It is thought that it may be a stem-cell of a cancerous tissue.
What doctors have now discovered is that there are ways to identify what the likely outcome of a tumor will be as far as prognosis.
As the article says, researchers have identified six factors that can be used to get a peek into a person’s future.
The features are high cell density, fine fibrillary stroma, necrosis, nodules, balls and prominent nuclei.
The presence of high cell density, fine fibrillary stroma, nodules and balls improved ones chances of survival. Presence of necrosis and prominent nuclei decrease the chances of survival.
Not only does this give doctors an idea of how to treat but gives researchers a way to look at eradicating the problem.
The tumor typically goes unnoticed for years and then symptoms will begin to appear which often consist of headaches and problems with muscle control caused by pressure on the brain from the growing tumor.
Treatment includes removal of the tumor and radiation and/or chemotherapy.
While researchers now have a key, they still have a long way to go.
I have often told the story about an 11-year-old girl who had leukemia who went to school with me.
The mother of one of the girls brought a record player and some records to school for a “dance.” As expected no boy knew what he was doing and would not venture near a girl.
Ultimately the meddling mother made it a “ladies choice.” A girl walked by and then whirled around and said “Let’s dance.” I hesitated and she grabbed my hand saying “I don’t have time for this.
I was, as I am now, a coward, so I obeyed. At the end of the dance she briefly smiled and thanked me. Then she kissed me and said “I needed one of those too.”
All of the comments seemed odd until the next weekend when my mother showed me the girl’s obituary in the newspaper.
I think illnesses teach us a lot if we’ll pay attention. I know in the case of this girl, I wish I could go back there for awhile with what I know now. I would have made her time with me happier.
