Robert takes his last dose of chemo tonight and looks forward to 23 days off. He did well and worked through the week. We did hear back from the oncologist and the doctors have decided to conduct monthly MRI's for the next 3-6 months a least- to monitor the white spot that was seen on the MRI in Jan. They all believe that this spot is most likely irritation and not tumor, but want to be proactive and cautious. We appreciate their attention to detail and will do what is necessary.
Someone shared this and I wanted to pass it along. I thought that this was so inspirational and relevant:
We are always talking about HOPE! Wikipedia defines: "Hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. Hope implies a certain amount of perseverance — i.e., believing that a positive outcome is possible even when there is some evidence to the contrary." It goes on to say that Hope is spiritual gift from God - divinely inspired from faith rather than just positive thinking and optimism.
We continue to hold on to hope. We thank everyone for the support that you have provided that allows us to maintain hope.
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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:
Robert & Tammy:
Always see the glass as half full and never let your balloon land.
Remember what HOPE stands for:
H - Hold
O - Onto
P - Positives
E - Everyday
We love you guys!
Paul & Sherrie
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