Okay...My stepdad is 42 years old, and was at work in Iowa 3 days ago (he drives there from his home in Minnesota) and he started having seizures there. He was admitted to a hospital in Des Moines, and he made a "full recovery" from the loss of feeling and strength he had suffered. One problem remained however: an MRI and CT revealed a golf ball sized mass on the left center side of his brain. He goes to see a neurologist on Tuesday, and will then have it biopsied later on. I do want to know a few things however:

1. How likely is it that this is cancer? I heard it's about 75% likely to be cancer, is this true even if his family has no history of cancer?

2. If it isn't cancer, what else could it be?

3. If it is cancer, what are the odds it could be treated/removed successfully?

4. Please tell me any other information you can.

I'm very worried for my stepdad and it would mean so much to me if you guys could help, even a little bit. I want to know what we're dealing with.....Thank you.

Now on a site I just read 75% of tumors are benign......I really need help....

You are asking a very hard question to answer without more information. Tumors that lie deep within the brain (the grey matter) cannot usually be removed.. however sometimes radiation or chemotherapy can shrink them. Benign tumors are basically tumors that are not cancerous, but are pushing on a part of the brain and causing symptoms.

Well, on that note, if they can do a needle biopsy of it, is it close enough to the surface to remove?

AND, are radiation and chemo effective against benign tumors?

I can't have my step dad die.....

[This message has been edited by KroppBomb (edited 09-22-2003).]