New Update on my brain tumor...***UPDATED

Had a new MRI yesterday and saw the doctor this afternoon. The scan shows that the tumor has decreased by 40%. I was hoping for more, but I am definitely out of harms way with what he was able to remove during surgery.

I still have fatigue and pain, mostly from the nerves around the incision site. He said this is very normal and it just takes time to recover from such a big surgery. I still have some balance issues, very small and at indiscriminate times. He said this is most likely permanent from the damage that was caused before the surgery. But it is really not something that diminishes my quality of life. I still have “brain fog” issues and what I feel like is a “delay” when I have conversations or I am doing some sort of activity. He said it is possible this may be from damage prior to surgery because I did have swelling and quite a bit of fluid surrounding my brain at that time. Where the tumor is at controls mobility mostly and would not have anything to do with those processes. It may get better or it may not...but again, it is more annoying and not something that would diminish quality of life.

He told us that the tumor is going to remain this size and be with me for the remainder of my life. It is basically inoperable where it is at because of so much vascular involvement, it is just too dangerous to totally remove. The good news is that it is benign and it does not affect brain processes at it’s current size.

He said that now is the time to hit it with the radiosurgery. The aim is to zap it and basically make it dormant. He indicated that the radiation will not eliminate the tumor, it may shrink some (not significantly) but the goal is to prevent any future growth. He is meeting with the radiation doctors and oncologists tomorrow and review what they all feel is the best treatment. He indicated that where the tumor is at is very easy to treat with the radiation and that with what was removed, I have a “safe zone” for any slight swelling or edema that might happen with the initial treatment.

It is a bit of a hard pill to swallow that the tumor is always going to be there and I will have to have a damn tube ride every year for some time to come. BUT, I am blessed that I am alive and a really good quality of life.

The doctor indicated that I will start the radiation within the next week or so, so pretty soon. He thinks maybe 5 sessions or so. I will keep you posted.
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Update Feb. 10

I had my appointment with the radiotherapy/oncologist doctor today. He indicated that CK (CyberKnife) or SRS (stereostatic radiation surgery) are the next steps. He prefers the SRS as it is non-invasive. Evidently the CK machine they have here in Morocco is older and he said is invasive (yikes) and he prefers not to use that in my case. The next step is to have a CT scan done. They will take this CT scan, the pre-op CT and MRI scans, as well as the MRI scan we just did on Monday and they will combine all of these to make a very specific map of my brain. He mentioned two areas that he wants to study to make sure that the radiation does not negatively affect those structures, but for the most part he feels that the tumor is in a good spot for treatment.


I was surprised to learn that benign tumors take much longer to see the effects of radiation. The doctor told us that cancerous tumors respond much quicker to radiation. I didn’t know that! He is very hopeful that treatment will stop the growth and he actually said he feels it make shrink as well. Only time will tell.

So the week after next, I will begin the radiation treatments. We don’t know yet if it will be one long session or 5-6 sessions. He will know that once they complete the mapping and study.


Always happy to have another trip around the sun!!!!!!