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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suffered Severe Head Trauma, Memory Loss. Diagnosed Stage 3 Breast Cancer, Memory Declining Drastically. Suggestions ?

Dear sirs;
My wife age 67 suffered severe head trauma as a result of a crash. Her breathing stopped in the emergency room at the hospital. After leaving critical care her mental age was judged to be about 3 yrs. old. After therapy. professional and at home she was restored to normal with minor memory problems. In 2010 she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation were prescribed. Since then her mental powers have declined drastically. She can,t remember any nouns and finds it difficult to hold a conversation. I have spoken to our primary doctor and a neurologist. They have not helped and her condition is rapidly deteriorating. At this time I judge her mental age to be about 6yrs old down from 12 last year! Can you suggest how I can get help.
Desperate in Fl.
AAAAA
Fri, 12 Jul 2013
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Pathologist and Microbiologist 's  Response
Hello and welcome to HCM,

At the age of 67, deterioration of memory is common.
The memory loss is initially anterograde (short time memory loss) and later retrograde (long term memory moss).
Transient ischemia is a common cause of dementia (memory loss) in elderly.
Doppler study of the carotids can be done to look for any abnormality in the vascular supply to the brain.
Breast cancer is an aggressive tumor.
It can metastasize to various organs including brain.
Metastasis to brain can also lead to neurological deficiet.
PET scan is done to know the focus of metastasis.
You need to consult a neurologist and consultation from nuclear medicine specialist for PET scan.

Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal
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Suffered Severe Head Trauma, Memory Loss. Diagnosed Stage 3 Breast Cancer, Memory Declining Drastically. Suggestions ?

Hello and welcome to HCM, At the age of 67, deterioration of memory is common. The memory loss is initially anterograde (short time memory loss) and later retrograde (long term memory moss). Transient ischemia is a common cause of dementia (memory loss) in elderly. Doppler study of the carotids can be done to look for any abnormality in the vascular supply to the brain. Breast cancer is an aggressive tumor. It can metastasize to various organs including brain. Metastasis to brain can also lead to neurological deficiet. PET scan is done to know the focus of metastasis. You need to consult a neurologist and consultation from nuclear medicine specialist for PET scan. Thanks and take care Dr Shailja P Wahal