Hi

I wanted to add my story to this website as it is the first information I have found relating to my type of brain tumour.

I live in Australia on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. I had extreamly painfull headaches for Sept - Oct 2003. After visiting doctors complaining of the pain and nausea I was told to go home and take headache pills. The pain persisted and I visited another doctor who my now husband and I insisted that further action be taken and he arranged for a CATscan. Friday, the day before my 26th brithday the results were that I had a brain tumour. My headaches and nausea became worse and an appointment was made to get and MRI on Wednesday and see the nerosurgen at the Royal Brisbane Hospital. I had the MRI and I saw the neurosurgen on Thursday where I was told that as the tumour was located in the pineal region the tumour was most likely to be benign and they would operate. I took a turn for the worse and the last thing I remember was getting a shot of morphine. Next thing I woke up on Friday afternoon in ICU after surgery. A few days later the results from the biopsy came back, GBM (Grade 4) not a benign tumour at all. Now it is August 2004 I have had radiation therapy and am on chemotheray (Temozolomide/Temodal).

The surgery removed 70% of the tumour and the last two MRI's show the tumour has reduced in size to 8x7mm. Temodal, positve thinking, organic food, meditation and healing I belive have all contributed to the tumour shinking. My oncologist told me that the radiation would be usefull but the chemo would most probably not be usefull on my tumour!

Thanks for letting me share my story.
Jessica Baker
Sunshine Coast, Qld, Australia

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Hello,

My wife, Sheryl, has been diagnosed with GBM IV. The story goes like this:

Good news first, our first child was born in June 2001, a boy (Caleb). In August of 2001 Sheryl (age 24 then) began to experience severe headaches that Tylenol or Advil would just not help. She began going to doctors for help about 1 month later. Sheryl was told several different things over the course of the next 11 months that would explain her headaches (stress, hormones, too much caffeine, need new glasses, etc) and given several different medicines for migraines - the last being Imitrex.

Finally in August 2002 we saw a doctor who told us that Sheryl needed to have a CT scan just to make sure that everything was OK. Well it wasn't.

The CT scan showed a large tumor (7.5cm x 5cm) in her right parietal lobe. We were immediately sent to have an MRI and to see Dr. William Hunter, a neurosurgeon, near Charlotte, NC. We discussed the MRI with Dr. Hunter and he was surprised that Sheryl was doing as well as she was based on the size and location of the tumor. Dr. Hunter told us that he needed to get the thing out very soon so surgery was scheduled for August 12.

The surgery was very successful, Dr Hunter was able to remove everything that was visible on the MRI, he said 99% was removed because there were surely some microscopic cells left that could not be seen. The surgery did leave Sheryl very weak in her left arm and leg. She is currently going to physical therapy sessions to regain her strength and movement, the doctors are very pleased with her progress.

The original pathology report revealed that the tumor was Anaplastic Astrocytoma III. We immediately started our hectic search on what to do, where to go, and what treatments to pursue. With the help of Sheryl's sister, Orenda, we contacted doctors and people in New York, Boston, Houston, and North Carolina at such institutions as Duke, Wake Forest, MD Anderson, and even the Burzynski Institute.

We decided to start treatment with Temodar (with Zofran) in 28 day cycles (on 5 and off 23) for 12 months. We also scheduled an appointment at MD Anderson to further discuss treatments with doctors there. Sheryl had an MRI on October 8, 2002 and we flew down to Houston to go to MD Anderson. The MRI looked very good, no signs of regrowth! However, after reviewing the pathology slides there, they concluded that the tumor was actually a GBM IV. At this point we decided to go ahead a have Sheryl receive 30 radiation treatments that the doctors in NC had originally suggested in conjunction with the Temodar. Sheryl is in week 2 of the external beam radiation treatments now.

So far the side effects of the treatments have been very mild, we pray that it remains that way, and that the treatments are successful.

The past 2 months have been very stressful (spiritually, emotionally, and physically). Many things have given us strength and courage to deal with this disease 1. prayer and faith in God 2. love and support from family, friends, and community 3. good doctors 4. and last but not least, a now 16 month old little boy that just won't take no for an answer!

Reading the survival stories on [this] website also gives us hope that this thing can be beaten and Sheryl plans to be around for a long time so she can tell her story and give others hope.

Sincerely,
Kevin Benton

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Nov 18, 2001 had a grand mal Seizure and was rushed to the hospital in an Ambulance in the middle of the night. Never had a headache or anything before. Never even had any type of surgeryNov 19, 2001 had a CAT scan and a MRI and they revealed not one tumor but 2.

Nov 28, 2001 had brain surgery to remove the big tumor at the back of the skull. The smaller one in the upper left of the skull was to close to vital nerves.

Spent 22 days in ICU. Had pneumonia twice.

Dec 20, 2001 Transferred to Critical Care Unit. Developed headache, neckache and stiffness of neck. They put me on a pain medicine where I could administer it myself (Max. 6 drops a day). Well it got stuck on and I slept for a day and a half straight before my wife noticed that something was wrong. Nurses disconnected the machine.

Don’t even remember Christmas, slept right through it. Slept for almost 2 days. Headache still persisted. Dr. Shandu ordered mega dose of antibiotic to fight infection and she was treating it as if I have Meningitis.

Dec. 28, 2001 Midnight - Dr. Disney did a Spinal Tab to determine if I have Meningitis.

Dec 29, 2001 Result of Spinal Tab came back good. No infection

Dec 31, 2001 was transferred to Rehab Inpatient, to weak to walk. Went into the Hospital weighing 175, came out weighing 135. Not a diet that I would recommend.

Jan 21, 2002 was released from Pollock Rehab Center, able to walk, but still weak.

Jan 31, 2002 Had biopsy of remaining tumor done at UCLA.

Feb 14, 2002 got the results of the biopsy and it was the worst type of tumor, a glio- blastoma Multiforma or GBM. The diagnosis was 6 months to a year max. What a Valentines gift for my family and me.

March 21, 2002 Started 6 weeks of Radiation. Monday thru Friday every day at 11:00. Had another MRI and it was all clear. Thank GOD!

July 23, 2002 12 months of Chemo (pill form) 5 days of pills 23 days of rest. Started on May 2002 and ended on June 2003. Had MRI’s every 2 months and they are all clear.

March 10, 2003 started back to work part time. Every Specialist that I saw said that I wouldn’t be able to go back to work. In fact they said I should go home, get my finances in order and enjoy what time I have left. That made me real mad. I told them I am not coming all the way down here to have you quit on me. And if you are not going to fight for me I will find another Doctor who will!

Note: I have been taking Coral Calcium this whole time. Don’t know if it is the reason that I am still here, but I am not going to quit to find out.

Elmer V. Bryant

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First I want to thank YASG and the people behind it for all the support you have given me since finding you (through my sister in law) just an hour ago.

My husband, Tim, was diagnosed with GBM/4 in November following a grand mal seizure at home. Fortunately I was right with him and was able to dial 911 immediately and get him to the hospital right away. Our lives were turned upside down when the MRI found a growth the size of a ping pong ball in his left parietal lobe.

In December, he had an initial surgery to remove the growth and do a biopsy. The diagnosis threw us completely. Tim is a very healthy 55 year old man who
enjoys cycling. His idea of a great day is to ride 100 miles in a day which includes climbing the mountain gap near our home in Vermont. He had just finished redoing all the siding on our house and completed finishing off he basement to build an office for himself . He enjoys Celtic music and taught himself to play the fiddle. He is a great grower of garlic too!

Tim had a second surgery that was more aggressive in removing the tumor and received 3 Gliadel wafers. This was followed by 6 weeks of Temodar and daily RT. In early March, just a week before the next round of Temodar was to start again, he had a seizure and at this time the MRI showed a small "spot" just outside the radiation field. He was switched to Irenotecan (CPT
11) and the most recent MRI shows the same spot has grown 2 mm so he will undergo radio-surgery next week. It may be too soon to know if the CPT 11
is/is not effective so our oncologist will decide whether to continue with it or switch him to Tarceva.

Never had we imagined ourselves in the situation that we find ourselves. And yet from the very beginning, we try to find the silver lining, the gift in each situation. We show gratitude everyday for one another and for all the friends, family and people who are supporting us.

I am so thankful to have found this website. We have been posting Tim's story on Caring Bridge which has been wonderful for our friends and family to read. This site really helps us feel connected and supported in a world that is still very new and uncertain to us. It feels good to offer some support to others. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected bythis disease.
email Tim

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My story follows.

My first symtoms appeared when I was 16. I experienced periods of intense dizziness. I was sent to a neurologist who believed every thing was psychosomatic. He treated me for 3 years. The frequency of my spells increased through high school and followed into the Navy. I was released from the Navy because they also thought everything wrong was just "in my head". ( how right they were). I was only in the service for 4 months. I was married at the age of my symptoms took a dramatic turn.

I began to experience crushing headaches, gun barrel vision, inability to swallow, no balance, and slight seizures. I was admitted to the Hospital where my Dr. said" we still see nothing wrong but what is not there is now a little more distinct. (we were all filled with confidence after that statement). My mom's GP then saw me and suggested I immediately be transferred to Schenectady General (in New York) and see Dr. Gerald Haines.

I was examined by Dr. Haines and was admitted that day. They drilled a hole in my head , attached a tube to a bottle to relieve the pressure build up. A shunt was later installed. This process had to be repeated on three separate occasions due to failures in the shunt. Technology did not yet exist for today's tests. The hospital had not yet purchased a CAT Scan machine let alone a MIR. One test was a pneumoencephalogram. They put me in a chair that went in a circle (like a hamster gage) gave me a spinal tap and put in an air bubble. The chair then moved and they followed the bubble to look for obstructions. Worst test I EVER had. Did it twice. I continued to worsen and the decision was made. They knew where the concern was in my brain but did not know what it was.

On Jan 2 1974 a had a craniotomy. Dr. Haines remove a tumor of the cerebellum. The actual tumor was the size of a golf ball with a protein filled cyst attached. It was a low-grade glioblastoma. I received radiation treatment for a long time after.

Dr. Haines was and is my angel. I owe him my life. Four years later my shunt had become infected and developed into spinal meningitis. Dr. Haines was amazed just given the fact that I had survived long enough to get sick again. While in the hospital I had a severe reaction to a derivative of penicillin. So out of the 33 day stay I recall about 6. A blessing I suspect. I have some permanent problems. I have terrible balance,( I would fail a roadside sobriety test miserably) and I get head rushes) when in certain rest positions. A road map of scars on my head and stomach (from the shunt).

All in all I consider myself blessed and fortunate to be able to tell this story. I have the love of a wonderful wife and two daughters aged 8 & 9. If I may ever be able to lend support please let me know.

Steven Daab
Age 49
A survivor

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18 and then (I am sure it was just a coincidence)

Hi! My name is Susan Davies. I also have been diagnosed with a Grade 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme!! (In March 2002) I could hardly believe it! I actually live in Bermuda. I went to Emergency at least 3 times complaining of seeing "flashing lights". Then I sometimes developed a headache and upset tummy...so they assumed it was migraines.

I finally decided to follow my sister's advice and see someone in Philadelphia (where she and her family moved to) at the Uof Penn hospital about it. They were excellent! They said it sounded quite like a complicated migraine but if I was American then I could get insurance to cover the cost of a CAT scan which they would do just to ensure that it wasn't something else. It would cost me personally $1,000 if I wanted to do it on my own.

As I was going to have an appointment with a visiting neurologist from Boston soon, I said to forget it and they prescribed a drug called, Verapamil for me. I took it daily until I left PA for Bermuda again. The next day, I forgot to take a tablet and had these horrible flashing lights. (I was actually having brain seizures, I now know.)

My parents, whom I was visiting at the time, decided to rush me to the hospital with my 3 year old son. When I got there I could not answer some of their questions...then later I had a serious urge to throw up and I did..many times.

They did not know what to make of me. My husband was contacted as he was at work catching up on work and finally arrived to deal with me, he's been to the last 2 visits as well. Again, the staff were confused as to what was wrong with me. FINALLY!! At nearly 2am they decided to give me a CAT scan.............they saw a depression in my brain!!!

Thank God for the little sweet man in the dept there who finally clued in that it could be something to do with my brain!!! Or else I could be still awaiting a discovery of my problem!! They were thinking of getting me a psychiatrist. So, even though I have this thing, I am still grateful now that we know what it really was!

I was told that they would have to fly me out to a city of my choice to perform surgery or look at my "tumor" so I chose Philadelphia- as my sister's family was here, rather than have to stay in a hotel room somewhere and cryall the time. Pathetic! No radiology in Bermuda...I still cannot get over it. Soo many people get cancer in Bermuda- I do not understand. I love the people helping me. They are so friendly and kind.

Surgery was done and they removed a 7.75cm tumor!!! I didn't know my head could fit something that large!! People now say, in a joking way, "So that's why she never got the jokes!" Very funny!

I am going through the 6 weeks of radiation and then ,or possibly alongside they may offer chemotherapy, which is supposed to be great for brain tumor patients. It does not apparently cause much nausea, vomiting or loss of hair!! Hallelujah!!! The radiation is a bit of a hair nightmare, however. I could lose hair in strange places on my head!! Great.

Anyways! I am trying to keep up a positive attitude. I have people all around the world praying for me, even small children! I am 34, a primary school teacher, and thankful to be alive right now to deal with all of this! I know- and keep getting told as well- that this will make me stronger...I believe it will.

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Hi, My name is Cathy Davis

I was diagnosed with GBM4 in January 2006. First symptoms were extreme headaches, with numbness in the right hand. The first MRI showed a golf ball size tumor in the left Temporal Lobe. The surgeon was able to remove almost the entire tumor with the exception of a few fingers were it was attached.

Surgery was scheduled for Jan. 12, 2006 and I was released from the hospital on the 14th.Recovery went well and I was back to work by the 16th. Fortunately I am able to set my own hours and could work around my tired spells.

Before starting Radiation and Chemotherapy, in Peoria, Illinois, I wanted a second opinion from University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics where my husband just finished a very successful Bone Marrow Transplant. The doctors there were impressed with the trial drug Tarceva that I could get in Peoria, and recommended that I take advantage of the treatment closer to home.

I finished up the 6 weeks of radiation at the end of March, along with Tarceva, and Temodar.

I am currently at the end of my second round of 5 days of Temodar.

Both times with the Temodar, I broke out in a rash that resembled the measles, which was accompanied with terrible itching.

My last MRI showed little improvement, but I will do better next time.

I am still working and playing in the flower gardens, and enjoying life.

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My name is Sherry Day and I am 27 years old, married with a 9 year old son.

I started having headaches a year and a half ago with nausea and extreme pain. I was told it was migraines and job stress. I have my dream job of a social services case worker and work with foster children so stress was a daily occurrence. This past summer, my husband and I started trying to have another child, so I went off my birth control and I just did not feel right after that and attributed all my symptoms to hormones, shortly after I had two incidences of numbness on my left side and my hand drawing up in a ball. I did nothing at that point just thinking it was a pinched nerve or from driving all day.

Then in December 2005, I was at work and had a seizure out of the blue. All I remember is walking down the hall and then I woke up in the ER with all my co-workers staring at me. I had a CAT scan and it showed a mass on the right side of my brain. I was transferred to another Hospital where I had an MRI and the Neurosurgeon jumped on the idea of surgery but then after talking with a more experienced surgeon they opted for just a biopsy. the biopsy first showed a grade 3 astrocytoma and when we met with the neuro oncologist he offered a positive outlook he recommended surgery, radiation and chemo. we met with the more experienced neurosurgeon a few days later he opted little hope of resecting enough of the tumor and told me to make the best of the time I had left with my son. this was all at Christmas so we waited until after Christmas and I made a self referral to MD Anderson in Houston TX and they have been wonderful! the neuro surgeon said it was more of a grade 4, but he felt he could get all the tumor and they wanted to resect it while I was awake to keep from damaging my motor strip. they did a functional MRI scan and lots of neurological testing and preparation first. The neurosurgeon tried to rescet all the tumor but when they woke me up during the surgery I had a seizure so he was able to only get 80% but they rest can hopefully be gotten with radiation and chemo. it's been two weeks since my surgery and I feel I'm doing great. I had some weakness in my left hand but it gets better everyday.

I've been told it'll come back, but I'm hoping to see my son go to college. My best advice is to research your options. don't settle for anything, there is hope.

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Hi!

Now that I am 10 months out from diagnosis, I feel that I might be an inspiration to others. I am 44 years old and was diagnosed with GBM in December 2004. I had surgery on December 28th where they removed the entire tumor. I completed 6 weeks of radiation in March and started on Temodar later that month. I have been rotating through 3 therapies; Temodar, CCNU (oral BCNU), and now CPT11 (IV chemo). The CPT11 is the toughest and the CCNU was a breeze.

I will complete this in rotating therapy in April. The purpose of the rotating therapy is that cancer cells become resistant to chemotherapy if you remain on it for too long. The cells figure out how to defeat the therapy. This is similar to antibiotic resistance; the bacteria figures out how to beat the antibiotics. I will remain on Tamoxifen for the following year and, God willing, that will complete my therapy. I have also supplemented my therapy with herbal therapy recommended by Jeanne Wallace at Nutritional-solutions.net. She is a renowned nutritionist and specializes in brain cancer. I have been doing guided imagery and have just started acupuncture treatments. I plan to continue the alternative treatments after I complete chemotherapy.

I have kept a fairly positive attitude this entire time. I read a lot of spiritual books. Somehow novels don't interest me anymore.

God bless you all. If you need to reach me, my phone # is 732-246-0466.

Laura DeBarba

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Bio of Susan Edwards

My mother is now 49. Last year in February of 2004 at the age of 48, it was discovered that my mother has a tumor in the left side of her brain. Her early symptoms were sudden inability to recall names and objects, and slowly she began to lose feeling on her right side of her body, and actually could not move her arm and leg. The tumor was removed on February 6, 2004 and classified as GBM grade IV. She completed radiation in April, and began chemo. They started her with BCNU intravenously, however, after several rounds, discontinued this therapy as her blood counts became so low that they had to wait longer and longer in between sessions. In November they started on the oral temodar. In February, 2005, one year after her initial diagnosis, it was discovered that the tumor was regrowing. It is now 1 inch by 2 inches long, and they have scheduled her for another surgery on March 11, 2005. At that time they will also implant the chemo wafers and now she is taking the temodar every day instead of the 5 days per month. Please keep her in your prayers. My mother has a tremendous spirit and I know she will pull through this in some way. Thank you.

Marleen

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This is my son Mike's story. I am writing it because he refuses to access any material available regarding GBM. He knows that it's serious but he doesn't want to know more than that. I think he's afraid.

Mike turned 21 on 10/12/05. In early March 2006, he began having headaches, off and on. His job did not provide health insurance, so I was reluctant to take Mike to doctors for a bunch of testing. My entire family, including me, suffers from panic attacks and I really thought that is what Mike was experiencing. After the headaches started to get worse, I was able to find a health clinic that charged patients based on their salary. Mike was examined, the doctor quickly determining that Mike was suffering from depression. He had all the signs. Blood tests and urinalysis performed were within normal range. Another visit two weeks later, the doctor was holding to his depression diagnosis and referred Mike to a counselor, although, he did write Mike an order for an MRI, after much proding by Mike. During this time, I asked Mike exactly what he thought he had, his answer was "I think that I have brain cancer". Of course, I refused to believe him. In the meantime, I also took Mike to an optomtrist and it was determined that he was having serious eye problems and glasses were prescribed -- even though Mike's left eye did not move or follow a light, he did not think that was odd. Of course, glasses didn't help and Mike's left eye continued to cross severely. We held off on the MRI because Mike is claustrophobic. However, when Mike couldn't eat or get out of bed for 6 days, we had the MRI done on 4/1/06. On 04/03/06, when I called the clinic, I was told that Mike should be taken directly to a hospital emergency room, which we did. The ER determined, within 15 minutes, that Mike had a mass on his brain -- what tipped him off right away was the fact that Mike's left eye was not following his finger. Of course, a neurosurgeon was immediatey consulted who ordered a CT scan and another MRI with contrasts done, which resulted in a diagnosis of a brain tumor that was more than likely cancerous based on his gut feeling. On 4/5/06, Mike had surgery and sure enough, it was a Glioblastoma Multiforme (a word that I've never heard of previously). The surgery took 7 hours and 95% of the tumor was removed -- Mike had several transfusions during surgery. Mike spent one week in the hospital. He was discharged with prescriptions for dexamethosone and Keppra for seizures (which Mike never had).

On 5/6/06, we started radiation (34 treatments, 5 days per week) and Temadar (150 mg.) 7 days per week. Once the radiation was done, we stopped Temadar for 3 weeks. We had our first MRI done on 7/13 which revealed no change from the MRI taken the day after surgery. There was still 5% of the tumor remaining but with no change, we would do nothing for now but take Temodar (300 mg.) 5 per 28 days. As long as the tumor doesn't grow, we do nothing. If it should grow (he'll have his next MRI in 2 months) he will get more radiation. Mike has always felt great during this whole thing (through diagnosis, hospital, surgery & treatment), he's had no adverse reactions to the radiation or Temodar. He did have some minor issues, such as a terrible case of shingles on his forehead and head at the surgery site. He developed pressure in his bladder and some miner joint pain but otherwise Mike is doing great. Neurosurgeon gave Mike the OK to drive again (after 4 months of not driving). He joined a gym and wants to work out at least 5 days per week. Tomorrow, he's flying with his girlfriend to Phoenix for a 5-day vacation. His girlfriend is a nurse, so this is comforting to me.

He doesn't work right now because he can no longe perform the job he was doing before diagnosis, which was delivering beer kegs to restaurants and bars, too much heavy lifting. He thinks that he may want to go back to school, and will try the local junior college.

He's playing softball and recently dived head-first into third base -- he does wear a helmet.

I'm afraid for him because I access all the materials regarding GBM on the Internet. I don't know how long he can go without understanding the seriousness of GBM but for now it works for him. He believes that he'll live a normal, and LONG life, and how do I know that he won't. We have a strong faith, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens. Sometimes, he'll say things like "I may not be around in a year", but then he'll say that he can't wait to get married and have a family and live a long life. He has said that he's not afraid to die. I try to remain strong, and we'll continue to fight this together. I get strength from reading everyone's stories. Keep them coming.

God Bless you all!

Barbara

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Hi, I have been to The Young Survivors Site often. At first I was really looking for pediatric....but through this site I came to learn about David Bailey...I went to his website and found his #....I ended up calling him and he referred me to Dr. Friedman who in turn sent me to Dr. Gururangan...pediatric neuro-oncolgist at Duke...My son David was dx with GBM in May 2003...right temporal lobe...he had a 'complete' resection...6 weeks of radiation...and temador...almost a year to the day his MRI (my son gets them every 6 weeks) came back...same locale, right temporal lobe...this time we went to Miami Children's Hospital and he had the gliadel wafers inserted...this is about the time I contacted David Bailey...and sometime between the 2004 hurricanes here in Florida...my son and I flew to Duke for just an appointment/evaluation...Dr. G had Dave's MRI's/reports etc....he proceeded to put Dave on a new protocol...CPT-11 and 100mg of tamoxifin a day....David gets infused 4 weeks on 2 weeks off...this second protocol started back in Sept 2004....it's approx. an 18 month trial...Dave continues to get MRI's every 6 weeks...he is now 13, goes to school (7th grade) skateboards and we have only noticed small cognitive changes...reading...he cannot always retain what he reads....he went from being advanced to 'regular'....nothing anyone would really notice, unless you were his Mom...:)
Feel free to visit his website: www.caringbridge.org/fl/david

Nobody knows what the future holds...it's just nice to read something positive in an otherwise bleak diagnosis...the YASG site has always helped my spirit. I'm not sure if my son is too young to be mentioned, which I would understand...it's just that currently he really has defied the odds....I have chosen not to tell him what the doc's had told me, thank goodness....but the first time around they gave him 9-12 months...the second time...3-4 months! And that was in May 2004! I'm not in la-la land, but hope and faith are pretty inspiring. Happy New Year!
Kathy Cummings-mom to David Fitting (my hero)

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In September of 1998 I was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme. My story is as follows. Prior to my diagnosis I had graduated film school in San Francisco and moved back down to Southern California where "the work" is.

For the first six months I temped in the hellish world of the Entertainment Industry and lived with my grandparents in Long Beach, California. By May of 1998 I got my first steady job in the industry; office production assistant for a documentary production company which produced programming for The Discovery Channel and The Learning Channel. Although grossly underpaid, I loved my work which was at the level of Associate Producer. I was finally on the road to success. By September I had saved enough money to move out of my grandparents home into a tiny studio of my own. It was dark and small, but for the first time I was going to have my very own place. No roomates!

Two weeks prior to moving in I had developed a persistent headache. I was popping Tylenol like candy. I was never one to have a headache, so this was quite surprising. I blew it off as stress and continued to work and prepare for the move. A week prior to the move, my parents purchased a lamp and table and chairs for my kitchenette. I recall being very lethargic and dizzy each time I stood up around that time. Once again, I blew it off to anxiety and stress from the move. The week of the move, the U-Haul truck reserved, my grandma's kitchen cleared of extra utensils, pots and pans, my headaches continued and my right eye became blurry. But this time I thought I had it all figured out. "It all made perfect sense," I told myself. "I've been wearing an old pair of prescription glasses with a scratch on the right side. The old prescription was giving me the headaches and the scratched lens was giving me a blurry eye." On the advice of my grandmother, I took a "half day" off of work to go to her opthamologist for a "new prescription." Little did I know the "new prescription" was about to become the least of my worries and the "half day" off work would be the last day of my employment with this particular company. Once at the opthamologist's office, I was whisked away to the usual eye testing room, reading the big "E" on the chart and testing many lenses for my own prescription. I knew the day and my life had taken a sudden turn when the doctor shone his miniature flashlight in my eyes and said, "Uh, oh." Yes he literally said "uh, oh."

"Bad prescription needed, right doc?" I was nervous as ever.
"Just have a seat Scott, I'll be right back."

It was the longest wait of my life. When the doctor returned, he said, "we need to get you to a hospital right now." My mother was called from work and took me to Harbor UCLA hospital at the advice of my opthamologist who knew I didn't have health insurance. The place was creepy, but we ended up staying. After a few hours I took a CT Scan. I waited for my results and distinctly remember a group of doctors approaching me in what felt like slow motion. The doctor leading the group had a tragic look on his face. He did not allow for any cushion. "We are sorry to tell you, you have a mass in your brain which looks like a tumor." Instantly I thought, "no big deal, with modern technology they'll probably just zap the sucker." The "C" word never even crossed my mind. The next two weeks were a blur. Monitoring in ICU, Surgery, and recovery. Prior to surgery my surgeons informed me only 50-60% of the tumor was operable. The rest is on the corpus callosum. If this area was operated on I would not be typing this today. A tennis ball size tumor was removed from the right frontal lobe of my brain. A few days after surgery I discovered it was malignant and called an Astrocytoma. The grade or aggressiveness was to be determined by pathology. I was told it would be a grade 3 or 4 on a scale of 1 to 4. By the end of the week I was told I had a four. I figured I'd always been an overachiever, I might as well get the most aggressive brain tumor possible. Soon enough I found out that because my Astrocytoma was a grade four I got a special name for it. Glioblastoma Multiforme or GBM for short. That was September of 1998.

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