So, time for something new?
Treatments are to start soon. Probably in a couple of weeks unless I can squeeze in some second opinions before I begin. I had an appointment yesterday with radiation oncology to simulate the treatment that will be given to me. They took another CT scan and made a mold of my face and neck out of this plastic thing. It's basically going to be like a cover/shield when I get into the machine. It keeps me still.
I'm pretty excited about a trip that I was invited to. Disneyland! Can you believe that I haven't been since 97 Grad Nite? I'm going with a couple ladies from work and it's going to be pretty awesome. Maybe I'll catch a photo with Eeyore? ;)
Lesley is coming out to visit me again later this month. She'll be here on the 25th.
Other than that, things are pretty much as they were before. Things are getting back to normal at work, and I still don't have any headaches.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
Anaplastic Astrocytoma
I know it's a mouthful.
Grade III. The worst is grade IV- a glioblastoma multiforme. I don't have that one.
It's cancer. I'm ok. There's not a very good nor a very definitive prognosis.
The tumor is too large to operate. 5 x 6 x 9 centimeters. About the size of my fist all squished in my right Temporal lobe. (It's good that it's in my least dominant lobe of the brain; thank goodness I am right handed).
Radiation therapy and Chemotherapy is standard treatment. Radiation has been proven to be effective, the chemo--not so much. I'm not sure if I will undergo chemotherapy until I get a second opinion and some additional questions answered. Much of the research and articles available online state that chemotherapy is not a proven beneficial treatment for this type of tumor/cancer. So I don't want to be sick as a dog and on my ass for a year or lying in some bed if I don't have to. Oncologists will try to tell me that my lifespan will be even shorter if I don't do the chemo, but then they also tell me to try and do normal things and have a positive outlook. I would like to try to do the normal things I enjoy doing, and since there is no way to tell how my body will respond with chemo, and if it's not even all that beneficial...
The enormity of the situation is still a lot to swallow and a little too big to wrap my arms around at this point.
Right now the best thing that can help me is all my family and friends' smiling faces, normal daily activities and routines, a positive outlook, etc.
I'll write more after I meet with the radiology oncologist sometime this week. I'll write more after my consultation with a nurse from Loma Linda University's proton therapy program. A treatment option my loving uncle recommended that I look into..
See you all soon.
Grade III. The worst is grade IV- a glioblastoma multiforme. I don't have that one.
It's cancer. I'm ok. There's not a very good nor a very definitive prognosis.
The tumor is too large to operate. 5 x 6 x 9 centimeters. About the size of my fist all squished in my right Temporal lobe. (It's good that it's in my least dominant lobe of the brain; thank goodness I am right handed).
Radiation therapy and Chemotherapy is standard treatment. Radiation has been proven to be effective, the chemo--not so much. I'm not sure if I will undergo chemotherapy until I get a second opinion and some additional questions answered. Much of the research and articles available online state that chemotherapy is not a proven beneficial treatment for this type of tumor/cancer. So I don't want to be sick as a dog and on my ass for a year or lying in some bed if I don't have to. Oncologists will try to tell me that my lifespan will be even shorter if I don't do the chemo, but then they also tell me to try and do normal things and have a positive outlook. I would like to try to do the normal things I enjoy doing, and since there is no way to tell how my body will respond with chemo, and if it's not even all that beneficial...
The enormity of the situation is still a lot to swallow and a little too big to wrap my arms around at this point.
Right now the best thing that can help me is all my family and friends' smiling faces, normal daily activities and routines, a positive outlook, etc.
I'll write more after I meet with the radiology oncologist sometime this week. I'll write more after my consultation with a nurse from Loma Linda University's proton therapy program. A treatment option my loving uncle recommended that I look into..
See you all soon.
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