My husband was diagnosed in June 2004, days before our wedding and his 60th birthday, with glioblastoma grade 4. We decided against resection -- the possibilities included blindness and loss of language. So he has had radiation and chemo and he is doing fairly well -- has problems with language and vision, among other things.
Never, though, did any of his doctors say to him, "you have x months." In reading so many messages to this and other groups, it seems to me that this is unusual -- it seems more common that doctors create a timeline. Although in some ways I would very much like to have such a guide, and I do know the averages for this disease, my husband has never asked me or any doctor and I have kept my silence.
I've come to feel that this is a good choice, even though it has made a few things much more difficult. I believe that by not asking, he's not putting a frame around his life. But he also sometimes says things like, "If I live for three years..." and I feel like I'm hiding something.
I would love to know what others' experiences are with this issue. Do doctors really know? Does it matter, given that they are only guesses or averages?
Jeanne