So my four week hiatus from radiation and chemotherapy is over. It is now time to start things up again. We are going to the hospital on Monday to meet with the doctor. She will go over my MRI & blood work that will be completed earlier that morning. I then will begin the six month chemo process of five days on and twenty-three days off.
I returned to work two weeks ago. I am working eight hour days. I feel pretty good during the day and get tired when it is time to go home. I am going to bed around 8:30 - 10:00. I feel like I have more energy each day.
Tammy & the kids are doing really well. They are extremely supportive of me. I know that I can be challenging at times, but they just roll with the punches. Who could ask for anything more!
Thanks for all your support and we will give an update early next week to let you know how things are going.
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My Condition - Glioblastoma Multiforme (or GBM)
I was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). This condition has four different grades (I - IV). My tumor is a grade IV GBM. This is the most aggressive GBM tumor. I have included a little section of The Essential Guide to BRAIN TUMORS below to describe the condition more completely.
Astrocytoma
An astrocytoma develops from star-shaped glial cells (astrocytes) that support nerve cells. These tumors can be located anywhere in the brain, but the most common location is in the frontal lobe. Astrocytomas are the most common primary CNS tumor.
The physician, usually the neurosurgeon or neurooncologist, will discuss the type and location of an astrocytoma. The pathologist will assign it a grade. Astrocytomas are generally classified as low or high grade. Low-grade astrocytomas (grades I and II) are slow growing. High-grade astrocytomas (grades III and IV) grow more quickly. The main tumor type is listed for each grade. There are additional tumor types in each of these grades.
The WHO classification divides astrocytomas into four grades:
- Grade I Pilocytic Astrocytoma
- Grade II Low-Grade Astrocytoma
- Grade III Anaplastic Astrocytoma
- Grade IV Glioblastoma Multiforme (or GBM)
Characteristics
The characteristics of an astrocytoma vary depending on the tumor’s grade and location. Most people are functioning normally when diagnosed with a low-grade astrocytoma. Symptoms tend to be subtle and may take one to two years to diagnose. This is because the brain can often adapt to a slow-growing tumor for a period of time. Highgrade tumors may present with changes that are sudden and dramatic.
Symptoms
- Headaches
- Seizures or convulsions
- Difficulty thinking or speaking
- Behavioral or cognitive changes (related to thinking, reasoning, and memory)
- Weakness or paralysis in one part or one side of the body
- Loss of balance
- Vision changes
- Nausea or vomiting
1 comment:
Good Luck with your appointment on Monday. It was great to have a nice relaxing evening with you and Tammy. You look great and your spirit is amazing.. We pray for you everyday.
Amy and Ed
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