Maria's Progress

Today was Maria's first round of radiation. She took her first Temodar last night. Day I had come and gone. God is now on the offensive against this Gliobastoma IV cancer. We are staying at the Hope Lodge in Baltimore, Md, which is a blessing and stress relive able for Now. She is on an anti-nausea medication which she takes 1/2 hour before the Temodar. It has been five weeks since her emergency surgery to remove a mass of fluids. She has an Ommaya Reservoir implanted. Just in case There's fluid build-up again. We know that this cancer is aggressive, but like I read recently this cancer will Not take away our faith, our hope, and love. I hope that by posting this update and sharing our continuous struggle, others will realize we are not alone. As the radiation beams were in motion she held a wooden cross and visualized the radiation as beams of light guided by God. She came out feeling good. God bless you all.

Gerard

Thank you so much for sharing Maria's progress with us. I am inspired by your words and your's and Maria's hope and faith. What a good idea to bring in a cross and visualize God's light entering. I love that. Our hope and faith is eternal too. Nothing can take that from us and we try to stay facing the light. The darkness is too overwhelming. My Jeff left radiation dancing today, so happy to know how live the life we are meant to live...fearlessly (most of the time). 

Keep sharing and God Bless,

Amy

Amen Amy. Keep the faith. One day at a time. We are with you and have you and your husband in my prayers. Stay in touch. Gerard

On Jan 29, 2013 7:11 PM GerardT wrote:

Today was Maria's first round of radiation. She took her first Temodar last night. Day I had come and gone. God is now on the offensive against this Gliobastoma IV cancer. We are staying at the Hope Lodge in Baltimore, Md, which is a blessing and stress relive able for Now. She is on an anti-nausea medication which she takes 1/2 hour before the Temodar. It has been five weeks since her emergency surgery to remove a mass of fluids. She has an Ommaya Reservoir implanted. Just in case There's fluid build-up again. We know that this cancer is aggressive, but like I read recently this cancer will Not take away our faith, our hope, and love. I hope that by posting this update and sharing our continuous struggle, others will realize we are not alone. As the radiation beams were in motion she held a wooden cross and visualized the radiation as beams of light guided by God. She came out feeling good. God bless you all.

Hi GerardT,

Sorry to hear about Maria.  I hope she tolerates her treatment well.  I have GBM as well, dxed February 25 2012.  I had tumor debulking, resection and began radiation April 3rd; I had proton, what radiation is Maria undergoing?  I also began 140 mg oral Temodar the following Friday.  It is in a time-release capsule and when I saw it for the first time it scared the living hell out of me, the TRC was large enough to choke a horse.

Temodar presented no real problem for me, for example I never lost any hair and my body has enough hair to weave a rug.  The radiation is what did me in, it put me in a wheelchair for about three weeks.  It wasn't painful, though.  I always felt fine when I came out of treatment; occasionally I'd even fall asleep.

On Jan 29, 2013 7:11 PM GerardT wrote:

Today was Maria's first round of radiation. She took her first Temodar last night. Day I had come and gone. God is now on the offensive against this Gliobastoma IV cancer. We are staying at the Hope Lodge in Baltimore, Md, which is a blessing and stress relive able for Now. She is on an anti-nausea medication which she takes 1/2 hour before the Temodar. It has been five weeks since her emergency surgery to remove a mass of fluids. She has an Ommaya Reservoir implanted. Just in case There's fluid build-up again. We know that this cancer is aggressive, but like I read recently this cancer will Not take away our faith, our hope, and love. I hope that by posting this update and sharing our continuous struggle, others will realize we are not alone. As the radiation beams were in motion she held a wooden cross and visualized the radiation as beams of light guided by God. She came out feeling good. God bless you all.

Sounds like a good attitude.

I actually enjoyed getting radiation.  As I was lying on the table with the machine whirring and clicking above my head I would visualise the radiation blasting away the tumor cells.  It felt like I was doing something active against the GBM.

Good luck.