Saturday, June 7, 2008

June 7th

We are attempting to beat the heat wave that has hit today and is likely to last for five days. Despite the heat, t-ball went on as scheduled and the day will proceed with more time spent inside then outside. Robert is feeling well and is running errands and doing chores around the house. There are moments when this seems 'normal' and then the realization hits that we have gone through phases when Robert was not physically able to do these tasks. We are reminded that our sense of what is normal has been in frequent transition. We become so accustomed to our daily lives that we often take for granted the beauty in our ability to perform the mundane chores of our daily lives. We are thankful that we are physically capable to complete these tasks. Each and every day will not be filled with the overly exciting activities and events, but that does not mean that we can't value the time. We continue to wish for 'just boring." Thanks for all of your good wishes.
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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Robert and Tammy,

Will you send/email me your phone number so I can get you a call. I am glad to read that things seem to going well (the May 19 MRI). Looking forward to catching up soon.


Bruce Seeber
Bdseeb@kurtsalmon.com

June 9, 2008 at 4:52 PM
Angie McLean said...

Robert and Tammy,
Thinking of you. On your 5th round of chemo and you are staying strong. Your passion for life and your priority of family is awe bounding. We love you guys so much and continue to pray for you constantly. You are in our thoughts more than you can know. You are in His care and you are loved my friends! XOXO
Ang, Chuck, Gabbi and Maddi

June 11, 2008 at 7:51 PM

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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