There is no new medical news to report - You know what they say, 'No news is good news." The only health related information is that Robert continues to be extremely tired during the week following his chemo treatment. There are some evenings that he goes to bed before or with the boys.
We are all learning to adjust to the changes in our routines and daily lives. I had a thought today- Robert's treatment schedule and the effects of the treatments are like the developmental stages that the boys encounter as they grow and the behaviors that change as they reach these different stages. Robert and I and the boys are still learning what the effects will be and how to handle them, as he progresses through his treatment schedule. This is a journey that we have never experienced before and we are trying to figure out how to manage them. This is not unlike the boys advancing through different developmental stages and exhibiting new behaviors that challenge us as parents. We are still trying to figure out how to manage them. We are blessed with wonderful children that teach us about- pushing the limits (testing people and objects until the understand how they operate), perseverance (never giving up until the mastered a new toy or game) , using their imaginations to create their own adventures, and resilience (the ability to bounce back from disappointment).
We as adults have a lot to learn from our children.
When we feel like we are being pushed to the limit- view it as a learning experience. When we feel drained emotionally and/or physically- know that you can persevere with the hope that it will get better. We can persevere with the belief that everything happens for a reason and that life will be good again. Being resilient means never taking our lives for granted. Even during the sad moments recognize that there are so many things to be grateful for.
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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:
Your writing is really very inspirational. All the best from Chicago.
Sharna
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