Hi Joe,


A search of the NCI's PDQ database of clinical trials shows 28 current
clinical trials for treatment for "brain tumor, child: pnet or pineal".
I would recommend your daughter's friend call 1(800)4-CANCER (the NCI's
number for cancer patients) and discuss the options available to
her.	MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston is one of the best in the
world and participates in many NCI clinical trials.


http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov/trialsrch.shtml


The University of Pennsylvania's Oncolink has an article on the 43
cases of pineal cancer they saw between 1977 and 1993 entitled
"Pineoblastoma in Children". 


http://cancer.med.upenn.edu/specialty/ped_onc/radiation/pineoblast/


Prehaps your daughter can help organize some sort of fund-raiser to
help with her friend's medical expenses. Our prayers are with her.


Sincerely,


Marvin Hanna




>I'm sorry for posting this to everyone in my address book, but I don't
know

>who to turn to.  My daughter, Andrea, was told today that her best
friend,

>who is 19, has cancer of the pineal gland.

>    According to Andrea, her friend has been surfing the net since
July

>trying to get information about treatments, with no success.

>    I'm asking everyone I know, including the Histonet, if they can
direct

>me to some treatment center, information, neurosurgeons, or research

>facilities.

>    The doctors here in San Antonio told her friend that there was
nothing

>they can do.  The doctors told her to try Houston.

>    The family is strapped financially and Anna's health insurance has
been

>cancelled because she had to withdraw from college.

>    Any information will be greatly appreciated.  As a father, I hate
to

>stand by and see one of my kids go through this without attempting to
do

>something.

>    Again, thank you for your understanding and any help you can give
me.

>

>Joe Nocito, BS, HT (ASCP) QIHC

>Histology Manager

>Pathology Reference Lab

>San Antonio, Texas