GBM IV - need support

My brother in law was dignosed with a Stage IV GBM in April 2009. He is only 29. He is engaged to be married in December and just had his first baby May 31, 2009.

His life is just starting. He is going in for his second surgery today. After 7 weeks of chemo and radiation the tumor has grown, causing frequent seizures and speech and spelling problems, the tumor is larger than before his first surgery. This surgery may leave him without his speech. The doctor is hoping to get it down to 3cm or smaller to make him a candidate for the Gamma Knife. At this point it is what we can do to extend his life so he can enjoy his wife to be and baby.

 My thoughts are with all of you who are going through this, it is not easy, and gets harder everyday. I will post later once the surgery is over with the news. Hopefully it is good!

Dear Kraeand,

I am so sorry. There's nothing fair about it. It sounds like you do have good doctors on his very aggressive tumor, but I would also make sure you've had a second opinion from a major brain cancer hospital or university. Hopefully to save his life, but at the very least for everyone's peace of mind... hard to come by these days. Really difficult times. Hold on and keep loving/breathing/hoping.

Best,

Sarah

mom of Andy, 26, dx GBM/PNET 1/09

Fist I totally agree he needs a second opinion from a large teaching hospital

Second I had my first surgery 1 year ago this month- I also had bigger regrowth. After the second surgery they switched my meds to Avastin/CPT11 and I am fine since November. Everyone is different and reacts differently.

There are many good/greay docs out there but you need one that deals with this particular disease often.

All my prayers

Gary

My heart goes out to all of you. 

I wish I had words that would make you feel better.

This is a horrible, horrible, monster.  My husband has the same cancer.

Everyone tells us to take a day at a time.  But that is easier said than done. 

I am sending you prayers and hugs.

Let me know how he is doing.

Penny

On 6/30/2009 kraeand wrote:

My brother in law was dignosed with a Stage IV GBM in April 2009. He is only 29. He is engaged to be married in December and just had his first baby May 31, 2009.

His life is just starting. He is going in for his second surgery today. After 7 weeks of chemo and radiation the tumor has grown, causing frequent seizures and speech and spelling problems, the tumor is larger than before his first surgery. This surgery may leave him without his speech. The doctor is hoping to get it down to 3cm or smaller to make him a candidate for the Gamma Knife. At this point it is what we can do to extend his life so he can enjoy his wife to be and baby.

 My thoughts are with all of you who are going through this, it is not easy, and gets harder everyday. I will post later once the surgery is over with the news. Hopefully it is good!

Thank you for all of your message and support! It is greatly appreciated!Just to update you all surgery went great! The doctor managed to remove 80% of the tumor, which should hopefully make him a candidate for the Gamma Knife!

Also there is no further speech impairment! He is speaking as before! He looks better after this surgery than after the first! He should be going home from the hospital today where he can rest and heal with future wife and baby!

We all have restored hope that this will extend his fight and he can enjoy his new baby and soon to be wife!

We are also taking him and her to a BlueJays game in September which is his dream!

The doctor has cleared him to fly!!!

 Happy Today,

Krae!!!

So glad to hear things are going good.

I will keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers.

Take care.

Penny