Pete’s Story
Peter Caldes, a married father of 3 young children, was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer called Anaplastic Astrocytoma in 2018. He spent a year at countless doctor appointments, hours of infusion treatments, daily visits from home health care nurses and therapists, and weeks in the hospital. Despite the hard fought battle, Pete passed away on August 17, 2019 – just one year after his diagnosis.
Pete was passionate about his interests, which included a love for Philly sports, music and movies. He was a generous soul, never hesitating to give to someone in need or donate to any charity.
About Anaplastic Astrocytoma
Symptoms include:
Seizures, which might cause loss of consciousness or changes in behavior, such as staring off into space.
Headaches.
Nausea and vomiting.
Personality changes.
Problems speaking.
Feeling very tired or weak.
Symptoms of astrocytomas in the spinal cord include:
Pain in the affected area.
Pain that worsens at night.
Weakness in the arms or legs that gets worse over time.
Trouble walking.
Source: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Anaplastic Astrocytoma is a growth of cells that starts in the brain or spinal cord. The growth, called a tumor, starts in cells called astrocytes. Astrocytes support and connect nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
Astrocytoma symptoms vary based on the tumor's location. An astrocytoma in the brain can cause personality changes, seizures, headaches and nausea. An astrocytoma in the spinal cord can cause weakness and disability in the area affected by the growing tumor.
Astrocytoma signs and symptoms may vary based on where the tumor starts. This tumor can happen in the brain or in the spinal cord.