I know that I just posted two days ago and it was long winded- but- I had to post again tonight for two reasons. First- I have so many thoughts scrambling in my head and writing often helps me to organize and clarify them for myself. Secondly- I often have this sense of stress come over me when certain incidences happen, because it reminds me of the amazing support that have surrounding us. The support is not the stressful part- that is indeed the most wonderful gift. The stress is the fact that we can never seem to truly reach out to and express our gratitude quickly and articulately enough to impress upon others the positive impact that they have had on our lives.
OK- Here I go. I will try to remain brief. Tonight we watched episode 1 & 3 of the new TV series- Hopkins. Robert found it interesting from a scientific perspective and was able to watch it with little emotional impact. I viewed it more from an emotional perspective and found it difficult to watch, at least initially. Maybe because it brought back the raw emotion of our experiences at Hopkins, maybe because we got the 'undesirable' diagnosis while we watched others get a 'positive' diagnosis, or maybe because it was a reminder that we are still fighting. As my intelligent husband reminded me- he is doing well. He feels good and definitely looks good too.
One thing was and is always clear- We will be forever grateful to so many and will be spending time trying to share our feelings. Tonight, as we watched the show, we were reminded of the dedicated doctors, nurses, social workers, and staff who dedicate themselves to their jobs. We feel fortunate to be working with the 'best' of the 'best'. They make sacrifices every day to help families like us. They have taken care of Robert and me as well. I ponder how it is possible to thank someone for tirelessly taking care of others physically & emotionally (before/during/after diagnosis) and continuing to research to keep improving treatments. They are the most disciplined and selfless people and we are thankful that they are intelligent enough, empathetic enough, and dedicated enough to do such good in the world. I hope that a 'thank you' can never come to late as we now feel that we are at a point in time when we can try and express our sentiments.
A neurosurgeon said it well on the show tonight- He commented that he believes those patients who have a large support network do better then those that do not. So if I haven't articulated it well enough- let me say it like this- THANK YOU! Robert will go for his next MRI scan on Wed. 7/16. We will meet with the doctor to review the results on Mon 7/21. Since I have gotten better at asking- I will ask for your prayers and good wishes for a good report.
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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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