So I've Got This Brain Tumor, Y'see...

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

It got noticed early last year when I went to see the doctor about some weird, daydreamy spells I was having, and he ordered an assortment of head scans for me. I got more scans every other month until mid-summer, when we decided it didn’t seem to be growing much, if at all. Fast-forward to this summer, I get another MRI just to check in on it, and we find it’s bigger than expected.

It’s a meningioma, by all indications benign, pushing down on my left parietal lobe, right across the strip of brain that controls my right arm and hand. I haven’t had any symptoms relating to dexterity, though. The recommended treatment is to remove it surgically, although I’ve also looked into radiotherapy. The downside to surgery is that it may leave me with reduced function on my right side, which is bad, as I’m right-handed, and use it for everything from wiping to mousing to wanking. Although I’m told there’s a 95% chance of total recovery, it feels weird risking it now to avoid near-certain damage later.

Monday morning, I have an appointment with my neurosurgeon to tell him my decision about how to proceed. After much back-and forth, I’ve decided to go with the blade instead of the beam. Best to be rid of it thoroughly, all at once, and while I’m still young-ish (30).

I’ve never had an inpatient procedure before, and nothing more serious in terms of surgery than a tooth extraction or toenail removal otherwise. On top of that, the doctor estimates a month of recovery. My wife is a teacher, so we hope to take advantage of Christmas break, two weeks during which she can be home looking after me. Of course, that means the procedure should take place at the beginning of the break, December 20, the day after her birthday. I don’t imagine it will make Christmas any more fun, either. I’m on top of that, though; all my Christmas shopping is done!

Rambling now. Just fishing to see if any Dopers have had such a beastie extracted from their (doubtlessly) big, giant brains, and how it went.

2

I haven’t had any tumors removed, but I just wanted to say that I’m very sorry and I wish you all the luck in the world with your procedure. I will keep you in my prayers, caveman.

3

Wow. Good luck man! That;s gotta be scary.

4

Sending good healing vibes your way!

5

Nope, nothing like that for me, but I do want to join in the hope that everything goes well for you.

6

On the one hand - oh my goodness!

On the other hand - you’re in a good era to live in that this kind of surgery is possible.

Good luck.

7

I knew someone once who had this surgery. She died.

Kidding, kidding. She bounced back beautifully, and she was in her early 60s at the time.

8

Very sorry to hear about it, caveman. I feel like I ought to have some good brain tumor advice but I’m not really sure what to say. Surgery is risky - my brother had a larger and more complicated tumor involved and suffered a stroke during one of the operations - but I think that’s the preferred option for a good reason. 95% is a risk but it sounds like a pretty good one. Radiation really isn’t a walk in the park either.

But that said… those are decisions you have to make, and don’t have to make yet. For now you’ve got the support of everybody here and I hope that helps in its way.

9

Holy cow!

Modern medicine is getting much better at treating cancer all the time, and the 95% chance of recovery sounds like a really good diagnosis to me.

All the same, I’ll keep my fingers crossed and my breath held for you, if that’s okay. (((caveman)))

10

When you say ‘radiotherapy’ are you talking about Gamma knife?

11

Hi caveman! Best of wishes to you… My mom had a very small brain tumor removed about 5 years ago and is doing well. I believe that she was only in the hospital for 2 or 3 days. There were absolutely no complications and she came home from the hospital with the top of her head wrapped like a mummy. She had about a 2 to 3 inch scar and a little bit of her hair was shaved, kind of in a horseshoe shape if I remember correctly, on the top of her head. Five years out she’s doing just fine. The only weird thing that I remember is that for maybe a year after the surgery if she pressed down on the top of her head she said she could hear her brain squish inside.:smiley: YMMV. :slight_smile:

Seriously, though, I remember how amazing the whole thing was. She had a couple hours of surgery, ON HER BRAIN, and was fairly alert and talking to us within about an hours’ time after it was done.

Good luck and keep us posted!

12

A good friend of mine had a benign brain tumor removed in 2006. It took her a little while to recover and she had to switch jobs. That was partly because it was a very fast-paced job she had and they weren’t exactly accommodating, and partly because her outlook on life changed a bit because of the experience and she wanted to do something that was more fulfilling to her. She’s fully recovered now and doing really, really well. She was 34 when she was diagnosed.

13

Good luck caveman. If you have to have a tumour, meningioma is not a bad one to have. Let us know how it all goes.

14

I just saw this. How can I help?

This isn’t an “idle offer”, because if there is something I could do, then you would be helping me.

If not, then just know you are in my thoughts, caveman.

Alles Gute

Bill

15

Yeah caveman, please let us know if there’s anything we dopers can help with! Sending healing thoughts your way!

16

Best wishes for a successful removal and speedy recovery, caveman.

Please let us know how you’re doing.

17

Take care of yourself, man. I’m sending good vibes your way as well.

18

Scary and worrying stuff, caveman. Good luck, and may everything go well with the op and afterwards.

19

Best wishes & a fast recovery man.

And {{to you and your wife}}

20

No direct experience, but my cousin’s son had a slow-growing benign brain tumor. He had surgery (rather complicated) and they had to leave some of it behind, which I guess was no big deal because it is so slow growing.

We were all very scared, but the guy came through it in flying colors. In the beginning, his short term memory was all goofy. He couldn’t remember if he brushed is teeth (or how to brush them, in the very beginning of recovery), but that cleared up quickly.

He married a wonderful girl and they have an adorable little baby kid and he’s doing very well.

Best of luck to you! We’re all in your corner!