Hello Corey,
I am very sorry to hear about your wife's brain tumor. That must have been
devastating news..

There are (or have recently) been others here with same tumors, but each
situation differs (location, age etc) so watch for other replies.  One is or was
on Temodar (according to the archives of this newsgroup)

You have some difficult choices to consider.
We don't have an expert here in neurosurgery but perhaps Steph (radiation
oncologist in Canada) would recognize the location that you mention and share
the experiences of his patients.
I'm wondering if radiation carries the same stated risks as surgery?

I was just looking up the 1p19q test...
http://www.brainlife.org/prognosis/bissola_2001.htm
Oligoastrocytomas are mixed gliomas consisting of varying proportions of
astrocytic and oligodedrocytic cells: genetically they are only partially
characterized.
Oligodendogliomas often show coincident loss of heterozigosity (LOH) on
chromosome 1p and19q and these markers are associated with a good prognosis,
possibly related to sensitivity to chemotherapy. "

and from another website (which I'm not posting here) seems to indicate that it
might show sensitivity to PVC (procarbazine, CCNU, and vincristine) .
"We have used a modification of PVC in which procarbazine has been replaced by
the more tolerable and efficacious drug, Temodar, and the drugs carboplatin and
etoposide have been added in order to reduce exposure to CCNU, which has
substantial cumulative toxicities."

So don't underestimate the toxicities of chemotherapy and/or do you have more
recent information as to relates to the 1p19q testing and which chemo it might
be more sensitive to?

This web site (random) says
http://nyneurosurgery.org/brain_tum_type.htm
Anaplastic astrocytomas (Grade III/IV) are more aggressive tumors and, as such,
are usually treated in a more radical fashion. Biopsy performed either with a
stereotactic needle or at the time of open surgical resection is required for
diagnosis. A gross total resection should be performed whenever possible. Even
in such cases additional therapy, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy, is
necessary to help delay a recurrence.

If you don't receive a reply from other patients (or loved ones), I note that
there's a message board for each type here
http://www.braintumor.org/patient_info/connecting_and_coping/message_boards/inde
x.html

I'm sorry, I know I'm not being very helpful, but mostly wanted to welcome you
here.
Post anytime, there are caring readers here.
J

Has your wife's case been discussed at the Mayo Clinic? (tumor board or
something like that), in order for you to know all of the pros and cons of
each option?  In my husband's case (see my reply to your post on April 12),
his tumor was discussed at the tumor board at UCSF, where the various
experts (pathology, neurosurgery, neuro-oncology) were present.  Then we met
with the neuro-oncologist who discussed the options and came up with the
treatment plan.  My husband's case was very straightforward, however, so
choices were easier.  I'm sorry to hear of your wife's tumor and situation.
I wish for both of you to have the strength and knowledge to make the best
decision.  Also I'm hoping that the chemo. test result is a good one.

JL

The only treatments which have been shown to improve survival in Grade III
astro are surgery followed by radiotherapy