CancerCompass message board discussion started by Kara-DadsCheerleader on 4/22/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23313,0.htm Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ As many of you know, my father, age 50, has just had his first recurrance....1.4 cm GMB IVIn the front of the left temporal lobe.The last 2 days he has had 4 spells where he said he feels he is in a state of Deja Vu.... said he feels as if there is a movie playing in his head... he said he can hear it, but he doesnt know what movie it is. The last two spells have been accompnied by a bad odor.I am aware of the term Aura....I am also aware the high chance of seizure....What should we do?His MRI was about a week ago. No swelling noted, just new tumor.He currently takes 400mg Dilantin a dayThey don't want to put him on a steroid at the risk of lowering his WBC's prior to starting up the new dose/combination of chemotherapy.Do these little spells mean that his tumor is progressing even further? I have informed his Doc about the spells and they said just to watch him, and that a seizure wouldnt be impossible at this point.Well.... Ive already seen him have 2 seizures, massive ones 9 months ago... and Im scared to death of witnessing another.Have any of you or your loved ones experienced this?If so.... did it lead to a future seizure?How did you treat it?We have had 9 excellent months ... I don't want to give up now. This "ef'ing"  sucks though. I am 23 years old, in my 6th year of University and JUST WANT A NORMAL LIFE.I know that sounds selfish, but our lives have changed SOOOO much in the last 9 months... and I just can't believe it. I dont even know how to take it anymore. I want one normal day.No more talk of Chemo... radiation... surgery... seizures....death....calling the lawyer to get the will straightened out... crying....crying....crying....tumor....doctors.....nurses.....hospital....cancer........tears....having fundraisers.... brain....scared to leave him by himself.... sadness.....fear....frustration.....doubt....prayers...Wow.... how our lives have changed.For those of you who have been fighting this battle even longer than my family.... god bless you and your families. Kara-DadsCheerleader Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Although I can't answer your question in whole, I can tell you that I experianced the same feelings of Deja Vu & Funny Smells.  However, I was diagnosed with complete renal failure.  My doctor stated that the funny smells were caused by the poison in my body, and the Deja Vu was due to my system shutting down.  That was four years ago - and I'm healthy again.    Runabout Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT My mother-in-law hasn't had a seizure in years, but she said when she does have them she feels "funny"...somewhat confused, and not very aware of her surroundings. I'm no expert but possibly these could be minor seizures. It would probably be a good idea to let your dad's doc know next time he has an appt. Good luck and God bless~ gr8ful4itall Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT My heart hurts for you.  My husband is battling an AAIII right now; had surgery March 10 and is getting ready to start radiation and chemo. We have four adult children, the youngest are twin boys, 24 yrs. They know how you feel.  Life is so hard sometimes, but when we think we cannot make it any further, God is there to lift us up and lighten the burden, somehow.  If you do not have someone you can talk to, I encourage you to find someone, anyone, who will listen.  A pastor, support group, friend, someone.  This forum is also a great place to release some of what you are feeling.  My husband had exactly what your father is experiencing before his surgery.  He said the same thing, about the movie, but he described it as another life going on at the same time his was happening.  He knew it was happening, but couldn't exactly say who it was happening to.  Also, had the bad odors.  These were all part of the simple partial seizures he had.  As the tumor grew (we didn't know it had grown, but it was), his seizures increased into complex partial seizures.  Sometimes seizures can change and get worse without  the tumor growing.  Just the fact that all the neurons are firing so rapidly in the brain, it can cause the firing to spread into other areas of the brain and cause the seizures to get worse.  Please make sure you tell the doctors what he is experiencing and that it is different from what he has experienced in the past.  Sometimes it takes several times before someone will listen.  I know this can seem scary, but I do admire you honey!!  What a blessed man your father is!!Many blessings,Debralynn  Debralynn Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT My husband has GBM and he has had these types of seizures for quite some time.  Please let the doctor know.  He may just need meds tweaked.  Good luck..my thoughts are with you.  M. michelleh Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT hi,  this last summer i had about 7 to 10 of those types of spells.  my doc at m.d. anderson said they were simple partials and i needed to get in for an mri.  i saw my docs at ucsf, and had an mri.  the tumor had begun to grow back a bit.  they then changed my seizure meds a little.  i take 200mg of zonegran.  i had my 2nd surgery.  since august i have had a few of these spells.  maybe they might think about upping or changing your dad's seizure meds.  hang in there.    fritzie Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT