Oscar Schmidt gives up on curing cancer: understanding the consequences of stopping treatment

The patient should be aware that symptoms may appear progressively as the disease progresses; Central nervous system tumors rank 10th as the cause of death from disease worldwide

or cancer in the brain it is characterized by the growth of a tumor in the region of the organ. In more than half of cases it occurs in another part of the body, the so-called metastasis. After the diagnosis of the disease, treatment depends on the type, location and characteristics of the disease. cancer. However, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are usually performed.

“In over 50% of cases, tumors affecting the brain originate from other primary tumors outside the central nervous system, such as lung cancer, breast cancer and malignant melanoma (more malignant skin cancer). When we think of tumors of the central nervous system, we can have lymphomas, which are tumors of haematological origin, of the blood, and gliomas, which are themselves tumors of brain cell origin “, explains Thomás Giollo Rivelli, oncologist at the Santa Paula Oncology Institute. belonging to Dasa, the largest integrated health network in Brazil.

According to Rivelli, these gliomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors with very different prognoses depending on their molecular characteristics. “That is, different genetic mutation profiles in each tumor can determine different patterns of evolution with more or less short survival,” he adds.

Last Friday, 14, the Former basketball player Oscar Schmidt announced that he has stopped treatment this year. “Mão Santa” is 64 years old and will not continue with the chemotherapy sessions. She has been battling the disease since 2011, when she was diagnosed with glioma. In the same year he underwent surgery, but over time the problem returns.

He said he wants to focus more on family members right now. “I quit this year (with chemotherapy). I have decided to stop. Before, I was terrified of dying. Closing my eyes and never waking up again was a terror to me. Thanks to the tumor (in the brain), I’ve lost that fear. It is a belief, from here I will not die. I don’t want to be the best speaker or the best player. I want to be a better husband and father, “Oscar said in an interview with Sensational Television network!.

Faced with the decision to discontinue treatment, the patient should be aware that symptoms may appear progressively as the disease progresses or as the tumor grows.

According to data from Globocan, a project of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which evaluates estimates of cancer incidence and mortality in the world, through an online database, the central nervous system tumors appear in tenth position how cause of death from cancer worldwide, accounting for 2.5% of deaths from disease.

See below for more information on brain cancer:

What is brain tumor?

According to the Instituto de Oncologia Santa Paula, which belongs to Dasa, Brazil’s largest integrated health network, a brain tumor is characterized by the growth of a brain tumor, distinguishing between benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). It can originate in the brain itself or come from another part of the body, the so-called metastasis.

Brain tumors can start at any age, with the type called glioblastoma being the most serious. Increasingly common in the elderly, it usually occurs more among men.

Regardless of whether it is malignant or benign, the tumor can affect regions close to the brain. Problems that may arise include: walking complications, loss of balance and memory difficulties.

What are the symptoms of the disease?

Weakness

loss of balance

convulsions

Difficulty concentrating

Headache

Anxiety

Depression

Here are the most common types of brain cancer, according to the Beat Cancer Institute:

gliomas

Glioma is a term used for tumors that start in glial cells, which make up the largest component of brain tissue. Several types of tumors can be classified as gliomas, such as astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas.

According to the Beat Cancer Institute, low-grade gliomas can, over the course of evolution (which averages three to 15 years), change grade and behavior, becoming malignant or high-grade or undifferentiated tumors.

astrocytomas

Astrocytomas are the most common glioma cancers. They come from astrocytes, which are a type of glial cell. In turn, they are divided into four groups, based on the degree of aggression.

Pilocytic astrocytoma (grade 1): extremely slow-growing benign tumor, often treatable with surgery alone. It mainly affects young patients and children.

Low-grade (grade 2) astrocytoma: slow-growing benign tumor, but with the potential to develop into more aggressive tumors (grades 3 and 4). It usually affects people under the age of 40.

Grade 3 astrocytoma (formerly anaplastic astrocytoma): Relatively fast growing malignant tumor with an infiltrative growth pattern. It usually affects patients between the ages of 40 and 50.

Glioblastoma multiforme (grade 4): A very fast growing malignant tumor with an infiltrative growth pattern. They are cancers that usually affect people between 40 and 70 years old.

oligodendrogliomas

They are the second most frequent type. As in the case of astrocytomas, they are divided into low-grade (grade 2) and high-grade (grade 3) tumors.

meningiomas

They are more common in women and are related to female hormones and pregnancy. In over 90% of cases, these are benign tumors. The cure rates are very high. A small portion of meningiomas are aggressive. In this case they are called atypical or grade 3 and must be treated surgically.

rare tumors

This category includes ependymomas, medulloblastomas and lymphomas. The latter preferentially affects older patients and those with immunity-compromising diseases, such as AIDS.

Metastasis from other tumors

These are the most common tumors in the brain. Those that most form brain metastases are those that originate in the lung, breast, skin (melanoma) and kidneys. Treatment of brain metastases depends on the clinical picture, the age of the patient and the number, size and location of the lesions.

How is the diagnosis made?

By means of magnetic resonance or computed tomography. Other tests such as a lumbar puncture and biopsy may also be done to evaluate damaged tissue.

What types of treatment?

Treatment depends on the type, location and characteristics of the tumor. However, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are usually performed.

“Not necessarily all cancers have received these three treatment modalities. In the case of surgery, it is important because it allows for accurate diagnosis of the disease by removing tissue for analysis and is important for symptom relief, because patients often show signs of hypertension or various neurological symptoms, “adds the oncologist of the Santa Paula Oncology Institute.

In case of interruption of the treatment, as in the case of Oscar Schmidt, what happens to the patient?

In case of interruption of treatmentsymptoms may develop progressively as the disease progresses or as the tumor grows.

“These symptoms can be varied and depend mainly on the size of the lesion and the location of the tumor. The speed at which this tumor will grow depends very much on the type of glioma in question. Lower grade gliomas tend to grow much slower, over many years. , and more aggressive, high-grade gliomas tend to evolve more rapidly and survival is often measured in months, “says Rivelli.

The specialist reminds that the interruption of treatment can occur due to side effects of the treatment, when the treatment loses the power to control the disease or by the patient’s own decision.

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Source: Terra

Benjamin

Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.