Radiation and chemo begins February 25 2013
I received a phone call today and was told that radiation and chemo will begin this Monday February 25th, due to the snow storm we are having. I am not looking forward to it, but getting this tumor taken care of and my life back will be great. If you have read the paragraph below you might have thought that I began treatment. Unfortunately I ended up waiting for them to call me to let me know when I would start. There were definitely some issues as I called them a few times wondering why they have not set up a start time yet on this treatment.
The snow is falling pretty good here in Wichita, which rarely happens. It seems as though satan himself is trying to keep things from starting... I have been saying the novena of the Divine Mercy and there are definitely good things coming from our Father! When I thought the treatment would last the 40 days of lent, I was wrong. Now that I look at it, my treatment will be finished after lent and on the important nine day novena of The Divine Mercy, which is said on Good Friday and ends on the Sunday after Easter. I will no longer be going through radiation after that Sunday!
The snow is falling pretty good here in Wichita, which rarely happens. It seems as though satan himself is trying to keep things from starting... I have been saying the novena of the Divine Mercy and there are definitely good things coming from our Father! When I thought the treatment would last the 40 days of lent, I was wrong. Now that I look at it, my treatment will be finished after lent and on the important nine day novena of The Divine Mercy, which is said on Good Friday and ends on the Sunday after Easter. I will no longer be going through radiation after that Sunday!
Appointment with Dr. Anders (Radiation Oncologist) February 4 2013
Emily and I met with Dr. Anders who works at the Cancer Center near St. Francis hospital. For some reason it took almost 2 hours to meet with him. He was surprised to hear that my tumor was now partially a grade 3, when only two months prior, just a grade 2. After our visit, I had a CT scan and was fitted for my mask that I will wear during radiation. The mask ensures that my head is in the correct spot during treatment and does not move.
We received a call from the Cancer Center a couple days later and was told that I would need an MRI. This is another reason I became pretty upset... At my appointment, I asked them if I would need an MRI, and they said no, they would just use the CT scan. I don't know why they would say one thing and decide to do another. Perhaps just to charge me more money...grrr
We do not know for sure when I will start my treatments, but we assume it will be next week. It is interesting... It seems to be a good time to begin therapy. February 13, is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of lent which lasts forty days. Radiation therapy will last approximately forty days, too. Just like Jesus was tested in the desert, I feel I will be tested once again during this six week period of not-so-fun treatments. As I prepare for lent, its time for me to give up the things that pull me away from God, things that only give me sorrow. Lent will indeed be the time to reflect and once again find joy in the life given to me.
We received a call from the Cancer Center a couple days later and was told that I would need an MRI. This is another reason I became pretty upset... At my appointment, I asked them if I would need an MRI, and they said no, they would just use the CT scan. I don't know why they would say one thing and decide to do another. Perhaps just to charge me more money...grrr
We do not know for sure when I will start my treatments, but we assume it will be next week. It is interesting... It seems to be a good time to begin therapy. February 13, is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of lent which lasts forty days. Radiation therapy will last approximately forty days, too. Just like Jesus was tested in the desert, I feel I will be tested once again during this six week period of not-so-fun treatments. As I prepare for lent, its time for me to give up the things that pull me away from God, things that only give me sorrow. Lent will indeed be the time to reflect and once again find joy in the life given to me.
Appointment with Oncologist (Dr. Ney) January 15 2013
My wife, parents and I met with Dr. Ney and came up with a large number of questions to ask. Along with Dr. Ney was Marci, Dr. Waziri's nurse practitioner, who removed the 39 staples on my head and gave us more information. Though the guess cannot be exactly accurate it was thought that close to 85% of the tumor was removed! It was also said that my vision should be coming back but they are not sure how long it could take, possibly anywhere from a month to a year. I pray it happens sooner than later!
While we were talking with Dr. Ney we asked him about the grade of the tumor. The name of the tumor is anaplastic astrocytoma. This particular grade 3 tumor is rare and only accounts for 2% of all brain tumors. A portion of the tumor is grade 2 as well, but because parts are grade 3, they have to call it by the highest grade. Dr. Ney has recommended that radiation and chemo be started 4-6 weeks after my surgery. Starting in early February I will under go six weeks of radiation Monday through Friday and a chemo pill taken 5 days of every month for one year.
Unfortunately, not knowing that cancer was slowly growing inside my brain, I tried to live my life well by going to college and taking on a career I would love... graphic design. After I graduated from college, I applied for many graphic design positions but never landed the career I would always love. It is my belief, even to this day, that the tumor growing inside of me is largely responsible for my inability to get hired. With that said, there is a chance for some good news. Dr. Ney said that he would sign the papers that will forgive my student loan debt.
While we were talking with Dr. Ney we asked him about the grade of the tumor. The name of the tumor is anaplastic astrocytoma. This particular grade 3 tumor is rare and only accounts for 2% of all brain tumors. A portion of the tumor is grade 2 as well, but because parts are grade 3, they have to call it by the highest grade. Dr. Ney has recommended that radiation and chemo be started 4-6 weeks after my surgery. Starting in early February I will under go six weeks of radiation Monday through Friday and a chemo pill taken 5 days of every month for one year.
Unfortunately, not knowing that cancer was slowly growing inside my brain, I tried to live my life well by going to college and taking on a career I would love... graphic design. After I graduated from college, I applied for many graphic design positions but never landed the career I would always love. It is my belief, even to this day, that the tumor growing inside of me is largely responsible for my inability to get hired. With that said, there is a chance for some good news. Dr. Ney said that he would sign the papers that will forgive my student loan debt.
After the Surgery January 10th 2013
On Thursday, December 27th, I went in for my 2nd craniotomy, which lasted 7 hours. Much of my family was there waiting for the surgery to finish and praying for a successful operation. I can't thank God enough for all of my great family and friends... everyone means the world to me. The good news is that I was able to speak well after getting out of surgery.
I am now two weeks post surgery and still have a good deal of swelling as well as difficulty with my left eye, as far as vision is concerned. I am able to open my eye slightly but unfortunately when I do, my vision is double.
On Monday, the 31st of December, I was able to leave the hospital and begin to heal up at home. Things were working out pretty well at first but then went bad on Saturday, the 5th of January. My parents took me to St. Anthony hospital ER because of the pain I was feeling in my right calf. A blood clot was found due to the surgery, so I was sent back by ambulance to the University of Colorado hospital for a second time. It has been difficult to walk around due to the pain and I pray that it gets better. Now I have to take another medication called coumadin (a blood thinner) and hopefully for only six months. I swear... all I want to do is feel better and begin to live life once again.
I am now two weeks post surgery and still have a good deal of swelling as well as difficulty with my left eye, as far as vision is concerned. I am able to open my eye slightly but unfortunately when I do, my vision is double.
On Monday, the 31st of December, I was able to leave the hospital and begin to heal up at home. Things were working out pretty well at first but then went bad on Saturday, the 5th of January. My parents took me to St. Anthony hospital ER because of the pain I was feeling in my right calf. A blood clot was found due to the surgery, so I was sent back by ambulance to the University of Colorado hospital for a second time. It has been difficult to walk around due to the pain and I pray that it gets better. Now I have to take another medication called coumadin (a blood thinner) and hopefully for only six months. I swear... all I want to do is feel better and begin to live life once again.
Meeting with Dr. Allen Waziri December 14th 2012
On Friday, December 14th, we had a meeting with Dr. Waziri, my Neurosurgeon. Unfortunately, there was
an accident earlier that morning and Dr. Waziri was taking care of a patient
that was brought in. My family and I ended up meeting with him at noon instead of 9am. As we sat down
he discussed three options with us.
First, he said I could go right to radiation and chemo but because there's still a lot of tumor left behind from my first surgery, he didn't recommend this option. Also, he was concerned that the tumor was acting in a more aggressive manner and was most likely a higher grade.
Second, he said I could opt for another surgery and only take out a minimal part of the tumor. When my tumor was first discovered, Dr. Grundmeyer in Wichita removed a small portion of the tumor. Although this surgery stopped the very strong headaches I was having, I believe taking more than just a minimal part of the tumor out will prolong my life.
The third option was to have an aggressive surgery and remove atleast 75-80% of the tumor. Even though the risks are higher than the other two options, this one
seemed like the best choice and offered the best prognosis overall.
Surgery is set up for Thursday, December 27th, at 10:30 am. It is easy to say that I am definitely
not looking forward to this but I am positive that this surgery will prolong my life.
an accident earlier that morning and Dr. Waziri was taking care of a patient
that was brought in. My family and I ended up meeting with him at noon instead of 9am. As we sat down
he discussed three options with us.
First, he said I could go right to radiation and chemo but because there's still a lot of tumor left behind from my first surgery, he didn't recommend this option. Also, he was concerned that the tumor was acting in a more aggressive manner and was most likely a higher grade.
Second, he said I could opt for another surgery and only take out a minimal part of the tumor. When my tumor was first discovered, Dr. Grundmeyer in Wichita removed a small portion of the tumor. Although this surgery stopped the very strong headaches I was having, I believe taking more than just a minimal part of the tumor out will prolong my life.
The third option was to have an aggressive surgery and remove atleast 75-80% of the tumor. Even though the risks are higher than the other two options, this one
seemed like the best choice and offered the best prognosis overall.
Surgery is set up for Thursday, December 27th, at 10:30 am. It is easy to say that I am definitely
not looking forward to this but I am positive that this surgery will prolong my life.
FMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) December 7th 2012
The FMRI was a 2 hour process. The first hour was for the regular MRI. After that, I was set up for the FMRI. A process where they would show me different types of imaging and wording.
1. The first thing I had to do was watch for letters to pop up on the screen. When a letter popped up, I had to begin thinking of words that began with that letter. If an image flashed up instead of a letter, I was told not to respond to it.
2. The next thing I had to do was read (but not outloud) the sentence that popped up and fill in the missing word. Sometimes a sentence would pop up mixed with letters that cannot be read. Those I was told not to respond to.
3. The last thing was to respond by making a fist when I saw an addition (+) symbol that was circled. When it wasnt circled, I was supposed to open my right hand back up and redo the process as the circle appeared and disappeared.
1. The first thing I had to do was watch for letters to pop up on the screen. When a letter popped up, I had to begin thinking of words that began with that letter. If an image flashed up instead of a letter, I was told not to respond to it.
2. The next thing I had to do was read (but not outloud) the sentence that popped up and fill in the missing word. Sometimes a sentence would pop up mixed with letters that cannot be read. Those I was told not to respond to.
3. The last thing was to respond by making a fist when I saw an addition (+) symbol that was circled. When it wasnt circled, I was supposed to open my right hand back up and redo the process as the circle appeared and disappeared.
Neuro Psych Evaluation December 6th 2012
On Thursday, December 6th, I took a Neuro Psych Evaluation that lasted 6 hours. To be honest,
I couldnt stand this and there were many different tests that I had a very hard time with.
It’s very interesting the way the brain works. If there is any area in the brain having difficulty, the information will
travel to a different place to take care of what it needs to. For example; as I was working on a test
with my right and left hand, I discovered that my left hand was faster than my right hand. The interesting
thing is that I have been right handed all my life and was always normally faster with it. The brain
tumor that I have is on the left side of my brain, which is why my right hand is slower than what it used to be.
Some tests were easy and some were very difficult. It is obvious that I struggled with short term memory but I also had a difficult time naming an object on the screen. Even though I knew what I was looking at, it was difficult saying the name. It almost felt as though the correct name sat there in my head, but I was unable to simply say it.
I couldnt stand this and there were many different tests that I had a very hard time with.
It’s very interesting the way the brain works. If there is any area in the brain having difficulty, the information will
travel to a different place to take care of what it needs to. For example; as I was working on a test
with my right and left hand, I discovered that my left hand was faster than my right hand. The interesting
thing is that I have been right handed all my life and was always normally faster with it. The brain
tumor that I have is on the left side of my brain, which is why my right hand is slower than what it used to be.
Some tests were easy and some were very difficult. It is obvious that I struggled with short term memory but I also had a difficult time naming an object on the screen. Even though I knew what I was looking at, it was difficult saying the name. It almost felt as though the correct name sat there in my head, but I was unable to simply say it.