It is difficult to know what to write anymore. So much seems to happen within each day and it is difficult to find the time to do anything else unrelated to taking care of each other. I made a comment the other day, "Today is a good day" and then I realized that this is not necessarily a complete truth or perhaps we often think of this statement incorrectly. It is not the day that determines whether a day is 'good' or 'bad'. It is not as if we know that Fridays will be 'good' just because of the fact that it is Friday. Isn't the day good just because of the fact that is has arrived? Isn't it our perspective of the day that determines whether it is 'good' or not? We all know that events of the day- make some days feel better and easier then others. We can not deny that some moments have more powerful emotions of comfort or discomfort and it is undeniable that we will feel the effects of different events differently. What I am trying to comprehend and focus on is that - the days that seem 'bad' hold powerful lessons that we must use to help us to appreciate the 'good' moments that happen later - even within the same day. No day is full of 'good' or 'bad'.
Robert is well under the circumstances and it is difficult to explain the changes that occur when suffering from brain tumors, lymphoma, and the effects of medications and treatments. The difference is this - It is one thing to know that you have brain cancer - It is another thing to see it happen - and now we are seeing it happen. Robert is determined, stubborn, and decisive in his fight to complete this week of brain radiation. Chest radiation was complete last week. Last week we had to stop the oral chemo and were unable to get the avastin due to results of his blood labs. We hope to continue with avastin again next week. Effects of the diseases that he is battling are making things more challenging. We work to continue to focus on the fact that we will do many of the same things that we have done - but in a different way and with tools to help us. We have added new support people to our team and know that they will take over responsibility with some tasks to free us to focus on being together.
We continue to be thankful for the many people in our lives who think of us. We could not even begin to describe the feelings that we experience when being helped by so many people in so many ways. Please know that our appreciation is present and we may not be able to communicate it directly right now - but we hold it within our hearts.
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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
3 comments:
Stay strong and enjoy this weekend and the time you have together. You both are amazingly strong and continue to stay positive...I admire you both!
Robert,
All of us here at work are praying that you get a miracle! I pray that you have continued strength to fight your battle. I was just comparing Kaedin's picture from last year when he was having chemotherapy to now, it still shocks me to see how sick, drained, and empty he looked - there were days where we doubted how much fight he had left in him. Please dig deep to find the strength and courage to continue the fight!
Jen Fryman-Williamson
Just want you to know that you continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
-Elise
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