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What Causes Loss Of Memory And Confusion When Suffering From Melanoma?
A relative, 58 year old male, has melanoma. It has spread to his brain, lungs, and bones. He has been told there is nothing more that can be done. His left side has become paralyzed. He can talk some---pieces of infomation put together in wrong order, seems confused at times, and athough he calls relatives by name, he looks at us like he's trying to figure something out but doesn't make the connection. We are told "things will go fast" but really don't know if that means he has weeks or months to live. Can you shed some light?
posted on
Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 19 Mar 2015
Answered on
Thu, 19 Mar 2015
Last reviewed on
Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM.
Melanoma in old age carries poor prognosis.
And when lungs, brain and bones are involved, prognosis is even more worse.
His symptoms like confusion, not able to speak, memory loss etc are due to brain involvement.
Melanoma wiyh brain involvement has very bad prognosis.
Life expectancy is less then 3 months.
So better to discuss end of life issues.
Melanoma in old age carries poor prognosis.
And when lungs, brain and bones are involved, prognosis is even more worse.
His symptoms like confusion, not able to speak, memory loss etc are due to brain involvement.
Melanoma wiyh brain involvement has very bad prognosis.
Life expectancy is less then 3 months.
So better to discuss end of life issues.
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