We are excited that sping is offically here and looking forward to the warmer weather coming soon. I said the other day that is felt better, just to say that it was sping, even if the weather was still cold. As we sat and ate breakfast this morning I noticed that the sky was a beautiful shade of blue and the grass looked greener. When we went outside after breakfast, there were snowflakes falling. No- I'm not crazy, we all saw them. Either the grass is greener or just knowing that it is spring gives us the sense that everything will be in bloom soon. Regardless- I am not wishing time move faster, but trying to take in the beauty of the day.
We are excited that the Easter Bunny will be coming tonight and ready to have him hide the baskets in the house. Last year the boys were concerned that the Eater Bunny was entering the house and Robert wrote the Bunny a note- asking him to leave the baskets on the front porch. The Easter Bunny complied and I guess that they now trust him enough to come into the house. We will of course leave out our Easter Bunny Bait and keep our fingers crossed that he leaves us baskets of treats.
Robert got a haircut today. I know! His hair had grown and needed to be trimmed. He went to the Barber Shop. He looks great and is feeling well. We return to Hopkins on Mon. for another MRI and appointment with the oncologist. We hope for a positive report and will post the results to you as well.
Happy Easter to everyone and as always thanks for your support over the changing seasons.
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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
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