Hope for Brain Tumor Patients

You know, as caregivers and patients, we hear all the horrible stories of pain and hurt and death and very few of survival and hope. When we got Dad's diagnosis of a brain tumor last February, I thought it was a death sentence.  It wasn't! 

Dad underwent a 12 hour surgery to resect the tumor in his brainstem, weeks of inpatient therapy, repeated surgeries due to complications and other setbacks, months of radiation and months of chemo. And here we are 14 months after his surgery, 15 months after his diagnosis, and my dad is gaining weight, his color is good, and finally, finally! his energy is returning to normal.  He feels good, he looks good, and his last CT and MRI showed that the tumor had not grown nor spread and in fact has shrunk by a millimeter or two. 

I didn't know it could turn out this way when we started on this journey!  I know it's not over and we'll have to monitor his tumor for the rest of his life and we know because of the tumor type that it will regrow at some point and we'll have to deal with it then.  But in the meantime, I have my Daddy back and he has his life back - and it's a GOOD life!  A brain tumor isn't necessarily an imminent death sentence!  Who knew?  Now that I do, I wanted to share a word of hope and encouragement.  Oftentimes, it's true that treatments don't work and God chooses not to intervene the way we ask, but sometimes, treatments do work well, and God does intervene and grant our loved ones a few more years.  That gives me great hope and I hope it gives hope to others as well who may have received the most hopeless of diagnoses.

Merci;

Thank  you for words of encouragement.  You have such a good outlook which will help everyone around you deal with this diagnoses in a more positive way.  Enjoy each good day and you will have the strength when you need it.  Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Donna, w/o Rob, 45, dx 12/08 GBM4

I am so happy for you and your family. 

My husband had brain surgery this last February.  The first surgery, they got 90%. Two days later, they did surgery again to try to get the other 10%.  We were told, they got all but 1% that time. 

He has gone through the radiation and chemo meds.  He too, has had many setbacks and complications.  Everytime you think he is doing a little better, he seems to get dehydrated, or something else goes wrong.  He is now taking the Chemo meds for 5 days out of every month for 6 months.  That, too seems to set him back.

I am hopeful after reading your message.  I hope he bounces back.  I hope I can get my husband back.  We have to wait until the first of September for his next MRI.  The unknown is SO nerve racking!!!!!

He also has Macular Degeneration, and that has taken a real toll on him.  He can't see well at all since the surgery.  That, of course makes his balance off.  So, it's like he has a double whammy.

I try to think positive.  But I can't help thinking about our house that we own.  My husband used to always take care of anything that needed to be fixed.  I just don't see that happening anymore, not only with the brain tumor but his eyesight.

I know there is hope and your story proves it. 

I will remember your story and try to stay positive.

 Good luck to you and your family.  It helps when you hear something positive.

Penny