[ganggreen2003]

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Gary Carter's fight with brain cancer has turned from brave to extremely grave.

On Thursday, Carter's family received a phone call from the doctors at Duke University who have been treating the Mets Hall of Fame catcher informing them that the most recent MRI revealed “several new spots/tumors on his brain,” Carter's daughter, Kimmy Bloomers, wrote on the family website.

In recent weeks, Carter's condition was visibly worsening, and Carter began complaining of severe headaches, fatigue and balance problems that resulted in a fall on Christmas Day in which he tore his rotator cuff.

This past week, Carter spent almost all of his time at his home in Palm Beach Gardens and was too weak Monday to even attend his annual charity golf tournament a few miles away.

According to a family source, the doctors are now deciding whether to cease giving Carter any more treatment.

In a telephone conversation with the Daily News two weeks ago, Carter expressed his fear and frustration over his worsening condition and the devastation of the brain tumors that were first diagnosed in May of last year.

"I'm not feeling too good," he told The News. "It's been coming on and coming on. I've had a chest cold. I've got sores in my mouth, blood clots. I get sick ... there's just so many things ... It's been nine months now and I don't feel any different from Day One. I haven't been up to doing any interviews."

On the website Thursday, Carter's daughter reported: "I wish I could report the results were good ... I write these words with tears because I am so sad for my dad. Dr. Jimmy Harris will be coming to my parents' house this evening to talk to the family about the next step."

Last May 21, Carter, after complaining of headaches and forgetfulness for weeks, was found to have four small tumors on his brain. From there, it was determined he would be treated with massive doses of chemotherapy and radiation at Duke University. The particular types of brain tumors from which Carter is suffering are inoperable and are the same that eventually proved fatal for former baseball notables, Bobby Murcer, Dick Howser, Johnny Oates, Dan Quisenberry and Tug McGraw.

"This is an unbelievable journey, nothing I could have ever imagined," Carter said in that last interview. "God is helping me get through this.”