It seems as if it has been weeks since our last post because so much has happened this week. This was a busy week for us in terms of the number of appointments that we had at the hospital. Mon. we met with the hemo-oncologist, Tue. we met with the radiologist and had a radiology simulation to prepare for radiation treatments, Wed. we got the avastin -IV medication to treat the brain, & Thur. we got the ritukan -IV medication to treat the lymphoma. On Thur. we left the house at 7:30AM and returned at 6:00PM. The days have been long and emotionally draining. The conversations held with doctors this week took a different tone then even before. It is both comforting and heart wrenching to see the caring/sorrow in the doctors eyes as they have to relay the difficult diagnosis and etc. The compassion that they have for us is incredible and yet it is their actions, body language, and voices that tell us more then the actual words that they speak. They still never give up hope and that is all that we can ask for.
I have been struggling with my current inability to keep up with almost everything. Our new job is fighting these cancers and it leaves little time to talk to almost everyone other then our doctors. This would be difficult enough, but there have been so many people who have given so much to us and I desperately want to thank each and every person. I wish I could speak to all of you and want you to know how grateful we are for all of the thoughtful gifts and good wishes that we have received. This blog will have to serve as our primary source of communication for now. Please know that we carry the your spirits with us as we travel through this difficult journey. Thanks for the gifts cards, surprise visits, gift baskets, e-mails, cards, holy water, prayers, and good energy.
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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:
We pray you find the strength to question and believe...
We pray you find moments of sleep and rest to cleanse your spirit and renew a sense of fight and passion
We pray for you to find that miracle cure in the midst of treatments and trials...there is the good news in this life- as you so eloquently say it...the diagnosis LOVE!
The good Lord is carrying you up the steps to your next appointments...that gentle breeze of courage you feel..that is Him. The inspiration of hope and knowledge in Robert's healing...that gust of glory is from Him. Know HE is with you. Know that He has you and yours and hold on that much tighter and with that much more fear...you have a gift to see that life is just that..the present. The gift is what we have to live life for now.
Thank you for sharing your strength and courage with all of us...your plight is not at all alone...you are so very loved and constantly being prayer for!
We love you so very much and as we wish we could wipe away this storm, be by your side to walk next to you...wipe your tears and inspire a giggle or two amidst the breezes of burden and fear...know that we are so very much consumed with Robert fighting this and being helaed.
He makes all things beautiful in time. Ephesians 13
XOXO
ANg, CHuck, Gabbi and Maddi girl
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