Anyone with Tectal Glioma?

[MyEmma23]

I'm looking to meet others with (or have loved ones with) a tectal glioma.  My daughter,3, has this type of tumor.  As patients tend to be on the "watch and wait" with regular MRI's, I am interested to know what amount of tumor growth is acceptable until it becomes something that requires treatment.  I have learned from talking with a few others with this tumor that doctor recommendations can vary from one to the next regarding treatment so I am very interested to hear how others are doing.
~Amy

[Tumor07]

I too am looking for other people with tectal gliomas. I am the mother of a 3 1/2 year old who has a tectal glioma.  He also has secondary hydrocephalus. His tumor is untouchable due to location so his doctors have taken the watch and wait position. They have given him a  10 - 20 year prognosis. They have also told me that once he hits pueberty is when this kind of tumor genrally starts to grow in full force. Once this happens its not good. They have told me that is when they will try to help him but at this time in medical history theres not much they can do and there has not been much sucsess. I am hoping that sonce time is on our side that technology will come along and allow my son to live a longer life. Since he was diagnosed in june of 07 he has had three surgeries. All of wich are related to the hydocephalus. I hope that you or someone out there will have more information on what to expect or what can be done.

~Barbara

[luke8671]

I am 22 years old.  I found out I had hydrocephalus when I was 12 years old and a little later I found out that I had a tectal glioma, which was causing the hydrocephalus.  I have had brain surgery twice, once for the insertion of a shunt, and the second time for the removal of a shunt and had an endoscopic third ventriculostomy, making a path for my cerebral fluid to drain.  Now I get MRI's every few years and I am still alive!  It's hard to determine if I was born with a very mild case of hydrocephalus and just didn't know about it until I started getting the terrible headaches in 6th grade but I know Children's Hospital in Boston is probably the best hospital in research for hydrocephalus.  I am actually doing research on my own to determine ways to shrink my tectal glioma.
I know all cases of hydrocephalus are different but I know there must be a way to cure hydrocephalus and tectal gliomas.  
Look up IP-6, its a vitamin that at a large doses has shown to help treat people with hydrocephalus and tectal gliomas.
Good luck!
Luke

[BTwalker]

I am 28, I was diagnosed with a tectal glioma and hydrocephalus at the same time, a month before my 24th birthday. I too don't know when, or how this tumor came to be. One minute the nurses were calling me an 'over stressed college student', in need of an anti-depressant, next minute they were looking for the closes neonatal neurosurgeon because they were the only docs familiar with this type of condtion. I had a spinal tap in the ER up at school and was rushed in for an emergency 3rd ventriculostomy. I have no shunts though, yay for me, my Dr. said it was a new way of going about things, but by giving me a shunt would soildify another surgery, so he opted not to do it. He's the brain surgeon. I do not remember any discussions of doing anything, I was in so much pain and therefore pretty well sedated. In that time my parents were made to be my health care proxy.
It's now been a little over 4 years, I'm working full-time at my chosen career path(which took a bit longer than I had originally set out for). But, getting a brain tumor is one of those things you plan for. I'm now in the 'watch it' stage, which is kinda like a yearly mammogram a little early in life.  
Knowing I have a tumor helps me to apprieciate life more. I traveled after graduating, I didn't run out and get the first job I could. I didn't have the money either.
I don't know if this helps, but I think it's good to know a few people out there sharing some of your symptoms, concerns, fears etc.

Please Share again,
Shannon
New York

[pdxsch]

Hello..This is an old post, but it still helped me a great deal to find it. There isn't much out there about tectal glioma and it's good to find others with the same things. I'm 44 year old female, diagnosed a year ago..if you're still active here, would love to compare notes. Take care..

[lizvic]

Hi @pdxsch   I'm looking for posts about tectal gliomas too.

All they posts Ive seen on MedHelp are quite old.  

My daughter was diagnosed in March with a tectal glioma.

If you'd like to chat, please PM me.

Liz

[LoriOh]

I was so happy to find your posts!  My husband Chad was diagnosed with a tectal glioma in January 2009, he is 36 years old.  His presenting symptoms were double vision & headaches but he was also suffering from major panic-depression.  Because of location they cannot do a biopsy or operate so he underwent radiation therapy & chemotherapy in an attempt to shrink the tumor.  Since a biopsy cannot be done they can only use MRI to give tumor grade & they feel confident it is a low-grade (I, II) astrocytoma that has been growing for many, many years. We have been told that a low-grade glioma responds to treatment very slowly & so far it has not started to shrink but is stable.  He begins another round of chemotherapy 5 days per month for next 6 months. It is oral chemo called Temodar. His next MRI is in 3 months.  It has been very difficult finding any information on adults that have a tectal tumor so it is nice to find your posts.  Life changed over night for us but we are finding hope in our doctors & in people like you have seem to be getting along just fine!  I think the initial shock is wearing off.  How often do you have MRI?  Any info on this tumor that you can give me would be greatly appreciated!

[Tumor07]

For us are situation is very different. Cam is only 3 so we are dealing with a life long cancer that is very rare. As I'm sure you know. But thus far I have not found a single person that was diagnosed as a child and lived into adoult hood. I have however found many teenagers and adoults how have this tumor and are doing great. Headache seem to be common among the group. But I am still searching for that person who can say they made it from childhood to adoulthood.

[davidestiberhernandez]

Hi, my name is david.. it was very hard for me to learn as a result i was 10 and still in first grade & i had terrible headaches when i was little(4-14 years old)... so when i reached 13 i got a terrible headache, thats when i was diagnosed with a tectal brainstem glioma..... i am now 31 years old and i get by but is very hard...... bsest of lucks to my little friend.....

[hydrochick]

Tectal gliomas fall into a subcategory of brainstem gliomas, which are tumors that occur in the region of the brain between the aqueduct of Sylvius and the fourth ventricle. Other brainstem gliomas include diffuse intrinsic pontine and cervicomedullary.

Tectal gliomas are often low-grade astrocytomas that enlarge the tectum and may obliterate the cerebral aqueduct causing hydrocephalus. In this case, patients typically present with neurologic symptoms resulting from increased intracranial pressure.
Less commonly, they may present with diplopia reflecting an internuclear ophthalmoplegia, indicating involvement of the medial longitudinal fasciculus. Paralysis of upward gaze and accommodation, light-near dissociation (loss of pupillary reflex to light with preservation of pupilloconstriction in response to convergence), eyelid retraction, and convergence-retraction nystagmus may also occur.

[LoriOh]

Hi.  I found this link & on it "JC2010" posted that she was diagnosed with brain stem glioma when she was 3, back in 1991.   I am actively searching for answers to both of our questions.     http://csn.cancer.org/node/153801  

[elizabethiswell]

Hello--
I just found these posts, and was surprised to see two posts about the condition I've had! I am 23. Two years ago I went to see a neurologist about an almost constant month-long headache. I had hydrocephalus due to a brain tumor in my third ventricle. I, too, had an endoscopic third ventriculostomy and shunt placement. A biopsy confirmed that the tumor was a tectal glioma. I am happy and well now!

But it's important that the tumor does not grow, so I am open to ideas about how to shrink it. I have explored nutrition/vitamin approaches, acupuncture, qigong and craniosacral therapy.

One question I have is whether this tumor could be related to hormones. Blood tests say my hormone levels are "normal" (which is a big range), but I have hirsutism that started around the same time as my symptoms. I am wondering if an elevated level of testosterone in women could be a factor....I would appreciate any insights!

All my support and best to you all,
Elizabeth

[MzC]

  My son was 12 years old when he the Dr.diagnosed his Tectal Gilomas it was April 07.He started urinating on his self ,scared of heights,and attetion span was short.I notice  that his sleeping pattern was changing bedtime was around 8p.m. every nite and was up at 5a.m with the birds. Durining the day he was tired took nap through the day. It was rough the first two years with school after finding out.The Dr. did a 3rd ventriculostomy incision no shuntthe next day after diagnosed.During that first week he did good but, the day he was being discharge he fell out on the elevator so they re-admit him for rehab.                                        Now he's 16 and they belive its changing they can't test it so we just waiting on side-affects to go further in doing treatment.Treatment is chemo an/or radiation.His strenght is good right now so they don't want to break it down.

[armon271]

My son was diagnosed with Tectal Gliomas when he was 6 years old. Due to location of his blockage, they did a third ventriclostomy instead of shunt and were able to do biposy to confirm the type of tumor that he has.  For the last 10 year, we monitored his tumor by having mulitple MRI done. His tumor stayed the same for the first 7 years.However, our last MRI, dated 7.21.11 has shown an increase in his tumor size. Needless to say, we are very worried and are supposed to see an oncologist within next two weeks to get more familiarized with our options. Eventhough we were told that this tumor is benign and slow growing, now doctors are telling us that it could grow and cause problems later. We are supposed to have another MRI in 3 months to monitor this tumor. The biggest change has been within the last 3 years. Physically, my son is the same. He's an "A" student and we don't see any changes in his behavior. However, I am very anxious to know that if he needs radiation and/or chemotherapy, what is the chance of this tumor continue growing? Also, is radiation/chemotherapy for rest of his life or just enough to reduce his tumor size for now?

[Keaki13]

I am 23 and was diagnosed with a tecal glioma when i was 9yrs old. After a baseball accident i started haveing head aches and vision problems. They dont know if i was born with it or a result of the head injury. I went in for my first MRI and thats when the diagnosed me with the tecal glioma and hydrocephalus. It was watch with MRI over the next 9 year. My senior year of highschool, i started having worse head and bad nausea and vomitting. Jan 07 i had my shunt placed to address the hydrocephalus. I have sleep problems for as long as i can remember and croninc pain since my junior year of highschool. and numeruss other medical issues. i just recentally had my annual MRI and it came back that my tumor has grown, i have seen a nerosurgyn who felt surgy is to risky due to the tumors location, so he is send me to a radiation onclogist to go over the options of radition and chemo theropy.

[GidgetLynn]

My was diagnosed at age 4 with a Tectal Glioma.. His symptoms were, bed wetting, headaches, passing out . I had spoken to his pedi on numerous occassions about all of these symptons and was told to stop giving him drinks after supper, make sure he takes a nap during the day blah blah blah. We almost lost him to hydrosephalus. He had a shunt put in immediately.The Neuro Surgeon had told us that theres a 50/50 chance his tumor would never grow and only time would tell. The first year he had 4 Mri's a year. and as he got older they have lessoned and now only once a year. He has had to have his shunt replaced once. Over the years his tumor HAS grown. He is 13 yearsold now and the tumor has grown 5ml's since he was 4. The Neuro thinks it's getting close to taking evassive action. We see his Oncologist this coming Friday to see what she thinks. How long do we wait to do something when we know it's growing? Do we have to almost lose him a second time?? Anyone have any advice on how long is too long to do something?

[jesica7881]

i am 31 yrs old and i was just diagnosed with a tectal glioma. i have been having headaches, vertigo, numbness and tingling in my hands and feet, fatigue and night sweats.  i went for an mri to look for lesions for ms, but instead they found a grade II tectal glioma.  i have only been to one neurosurgeon who brushed it off as nothing to worry about and tried to tell me my sxs had nothing to do with the tumor.  my neurologist on the other hand thinks that it is most definentely and important thing that needs to be monitored and that my sxs have everything to do with the tumor.  it is right now about the size of a dime and has not caused hydrocephalus although i have terrible headaches almost everyday:(  no one really seems to know much about this kind of tumor and how it is caused or how to treat it. i am a mother of 3 beautiful children and a wife to the best husband ever.  i am so scared having this tumor and not having clear answers to my millions of questions.  my next mri is scheduled for this december and i am researching other neurosurgeons to get some other opinions and answers on how to treat this tumor.

[az74]

I was diagnosed with my tectal glioma in April of 2007.  Believe me a day I will never forget.  My symptoms included numbness, weakness in my left limbs and hands, left eye vision issues, severe headaches and my body felt like it was carrying around an extra 100 pounds!  We went to the DR and they did and MRI and it was determined I had a tectal glioma.  We were given the same answers of - "Slow growing, inoperable, not treatable, need to watch, can't touch due to location and the chance of causing blindness, etc..."

I have been pretty stable up until about 6 months ago and my symptoms started to increased.  My depth perception is completely off, I get dizzy very easily, I wake up in the morning with severe headaches that also cause bloody noses, the weakness,numbness and tingling in the limbs is worse.  We went back to the neurologist and he had us follow up with our neurosurgeon.  I must say we are at one of the best hospitals, Barrow's, but getting frustrated at the lack of answers.  They do believe the symptoms are a result of the tumor and just yesterday they did an MR Spect do graph the tumor and see if they could get a better make up of the tumor and see maybe how it might best respond to treatment.  We are anxious to see what the results of this might be.  

It has been a long 5 years and I have learned to just cope and know this is life and put on the "happy" face but I am not sure how much longer I can deal with the symptoms like this.  

I am a mother to 2 kids who have been in the dark about this for 5 years and I am not sure how much longer we can go without letting them in on what is going on.

On another note, just this morning I was given the name of a doctor at Stanford University who might be up on this type of tumor.  If I get any information I will let you know.

[jimenaynachito]

hi!! my name is jimena. and firts of all.. my spnglish is not that good! sorry for that but i am able to read and understand perfectly. well i saw  your comment and  Q´s looking for answers for your litlle one, and well i am one of those  persons that are running with you, i have a 4 yr old son who has been diagnosed with tectal a ( a very big one and in the very worst place) and hydroce.. the doctors say  that the tumor can´t be touched, it is too risky and it is not doing enough pressure to make the third ventricolomy..(sorry i don´t know how to write it).. he got  like 4 MRI´s done since september.. and they say that we just have to watch if he present symptoms, let me tell you that this tumor has been discovered acccidentally... however, i asked the doctor a thousands times if the life of my son was at risk, and they say¨No¨.. with a shunt will be fine,... the tecnology  y taking big steps, ans as you, my life has changed, i can´t laugh like before thinking in my child, but i am putting everything in God´s hands and of course i trust in the doctors... i would like to know  if you found out something else that could helps us both to  live with this better or at least if something gives you hope, for now i just  can tell you that the doctor at children´s hospital told me that theres nothing to worried about we gonna keep our babies with us ... please  write me back. or anybody else to see if i am right or not.

[tyanna42]

my son is fixing to be 3 and he has tectal glioma but his tumor is on his brain stem they also said they cant touch it but he is doing great i had a good doctor who worked on him and my son just start learning how to walk but he needs help on his speech im from corpus christi TX the dr who worked on him his name is dr burke i recomend him hes a great dr..even if your not from the tx area i would look into it and find someone who knows what there doing...its been a hard couple of years but we are doing ok just greatful the tumor isnt cancerous

[believe1son]

Son diagnosed at 5 is now 8. Has ETV and was symptom free for those three years.  Began developing symptoms and is going in for 2nd ETV.  Praying for more symptom free days ahead.

[NYBrad]

My son experienced headaches, tintinitis and fainting throughout his pre-teen and teen years. He was finally diagnosed with tectal glioma last summer and had surgery at Sloan Kettering. a shunt was put in. Almost immediately his symptoms disappeared. He is now 21 and feeling very healthy. Unfortunately other nodes were discovered, since he has MRIs three times a year in order to monitor his situation. We are going to meet with his oncologist and neurosurgeon in two days. The tumor that was operated on was determined to be level 1, meaning non-malignant. We are desperately hoping this second growth is also non-cancerous, though we are terrified by possible expansion.

[iramyr]

I am Russian (sorry for my grammar). My son is 4 years old. We were diagnosed with hydrocephalus due to tectal glioma stage I a month ago. He became very quiet, stopped playing, had problems with depth perception, he tripped over his feet and fell a LOT. Right before the surgery he couldn't hold a spoon. We underwent VP shunt surgery and he is doing good. Our lives changed over night. I panicked, blamed myself, cried, then I realized that it is what it is and I will just help him live to his fullest potential. I appreciate the time I spend with my son a lot more now. Our Doc is the best, we are blessed to have him. He gave me my little boy back. Prognoses are the same as above "in some tumor doesn't grow, my son may be the one" and a traditional "wait and see".Recently I did research online and realized that tumor does grow slowly but surely. At about age 13 to 16 kids are sent to oncologist to undergo chemo that might or might not help. It breaks my heart to realize that my little boy has a difficult journey that is still yet to come. We take it one day at a time and pray for the best.
I was wondering if anyone knows any herbs or vitamins or anything that might help with tumor. The only info I know is on  
http://www.hydroassoc.org/ http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/hydrocephalus/hydrocephalus.htm
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/brainandspinaltumors/detail_brainandspinaltumors.htm#182943060
Good Luck to all of You out there and thank you for posting your comments it means a lot.

[Maike191]

My daughter was accidentally diagnosed with a tectal glioma that caused a hydrocephalus. The MRI was done end of october and in December she got. her ventrikulostomy. Everything went fine, but the diagnosis is very difficult for us to live with. My daughter is 14 years old and she didn't have any Symptoms besides a monthly headache for a few hours that was thought to be a migraine. The Doctors tell us not to worry and want only to watch her, First After three months, then, with nothing showing, after 6 months, then after 9 and finale every year for the next 10-15 years. Her prognosis is relatively good, because she is relatively old and the glioma is now 1,4cm x 0,9cm. They don't think it will cause problems, but nobody can guarantee a positive outcome... I am very interested in learning about other children and teenagers with tectal gliomas simply in order to be able to cope with all this. Thanks for any messages!

[lizvic]

Hi

My daughter was getting monthly headaches that lasted just a few hours.  The doctors thought hers were migraine too.  How is your daughter now?

[peaceandlove622]

Hy maike,

am 32 years old with tectal glioma diagnosed 2 years back mistakenly. The best doctors and neurosurgeon I have seen they told me not to worry and it will regress with time. Please try to think positive, don't be negative.
Even this go worst, which should not, there is gamma knife which can treat the glioma. Google it. If you have any more info about how to treat this kind of glioma if grows please share it here.

Thanks, keep up, be positive. Don't panic yr daughter and keep yearly MRI

[pdxsch]

Hi there..How are you doing with your tectal glioma now? Hope you are well.

[Bing1130]

My son was diagnosed in May of 2014.  I too would like to join your group.

[Cliffb75]

Hi my wife has been diagnosed with a tectal glioma and she's 38. I have tried to join this group many times in the last few months and keep getting knocked back. We have had countless tests, neurosurgeons/neurologists and nobody can agree on what to do or what she has. She hasn't got hydrocephalus yet and only seems to have had vertigo as her main symptom. She had her hearing tested the other month and we got the results to say that they have picked up issues with her and that it is commonly from a lesion in the brain stem. We are desperate to talk to others with this same problem. Thanks..cliff

[marsky13]

Hi,
I have a daughter and she is 14 years old and has a tectal plate glioma, also an ETV was done due the hydrocephalus.  The tumor was discover July 2013.
We go back to Duke hospital every 6 months now. She has headaches every day and is taking Elavil daily  (that helps) the headaches are not so severe.
I hope your daughter is doing better now.