My personal experience with brain tumors began nine years ago when my mother-in-law was diagnosed with Grade 3 Anaplastic Astrocytoma.
She had been experiencing some gross motor skill issues, and after thinking she maybe had a stroke, her medical team did some labs, MRI’s and eventually a biopsy, to confirm that she had a tumor in her brain that was both inoperable and incurable. Double whammy.
My MIL was 62 years old at the time of her diagnosis (her biopsy was done the week of our wedding), and just 63 when she passed away 8 months later. She lived less than a year with this aggressive tumor, which the standard of care couldn't slow or stop. We watched helplessly as she swiftly lost one ability at a time: mobility, speech, vision…until she eventually passed in her sleep at home.
Fast forward 8 years later, and my mother was experiencing strange symptoms: unexplained memory loss issues and headaches/pressure which initially was passed off as a lingering sinus infection. After a couple of months of doctoring and meds, she insisted on an MRI, and to all our shock: it was a brain tumor. The doctor was certain the tumor was Stage 4: GBM (the most aggressive and most common brain tumor) and that it had to be removed.
The very next morning she had the tumor removed successfully, and she returned home from the hospital later that week, on her 59th birthday.
Pathology came back a couple of weeks later: glioblastoma multiforme, wild-type, unmethylated. I immediately started researching again, now that I knew for sure what we were dealing with, and quickly realized what we were up against was literally going to be the fight for her life.
We waited for her incision to heal so she could begin chemo and radiation. She chose to participate in a study, but was put into the chemo group (versus the immunotherapy), which was a disappointment knowing that it would more likely not be helpful to her type of tumor (*spoiler, it wasn't). She also did speech therapy to help her regain some of her speech and memory issues, due to the tumor being located on her left temporal lobe.
She continued MRI’s every couple of months and received the all-clear, up until she was 8 months post-surgery. Then, they discovered three new growths: two in the same cavity as before and one new growth on her cerebellum.
Radiation would begin again (after looking into a trial that she didn’t qualify for because of her type and location of the tumor). After completing her radiation, her MRI was not what we had hoped for. The doctor said there are enhancements of her lesions and new growth with flaring. Right now she is taking a few weeks off to allow her brain to heal and decisions to be made regarding more radiation (with added risks this time around) or not.
These are the types of decisions those with aggressive brain tumors are faced with. The tumors can grow very quickly and many times, with limited/ineffective options for treatment. You feel under pressure constantly trying to figure out a way to somehow get more time and quality of life, all while trying to manage symptoms, stay positive and enjoy each day that you have.
So, this Mother's Day is a difficult one. I cried as I wrote in my mom's card. And although I am upset at the hand she was dealt, I am so proud to be her daughter and know that she is living with so much strength, resilience, positivity, and faith. I love you, Mom.
Below are links if you would like to learn more or donate to brain cancer research:
My mom’s Caring Bridge