Today I have been home with the boys for the entire day and they have been my motivation for everything and anything that seems difficult and/or challenging. They have been working with me to gather items for our yard sale and have been very generous in giving up books and toys to sell in the name of charity. They have been enthusiastic about the work that needs to be done prior to the sale. Bryce is ready to hit the streets to gather items to raffle off. They have been cooperative and their attitudes remind me that the effort put into our projects is worth it.
We have planned a trip to Disney and are excited about the chance to get away and have fun together. When scheduling the trip we were asked if we were celebrating any special occasions and initially we said no. When asked again - I responded that we were celebrating 'Life'. Robert explained about his diagnosis and the representative questioned if he was telling the truth. We were not trying to shock her, but it is a story of hope and a story of the power of people. Without the people working to treat and search for a cure - and - without the people who care for us emotionally we would not be doing this well. It is a 'good' story in the respect that it demonstrates that people can pull together and make a difference. We are incredibly thankful for the good people in our lives.
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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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