GBM grade IV and Keppra

mgreggsmith
mgreggsmith Member Posts: 22
in Brain Cancer #1
In October 2006 I had a brain seizure and passed out. After a series of medical tests I was told I had a brain tumor. Within days I had brain surgery. The pathology report indicated that I had a malignant grade IV glioblastoma multiforme. (I asked for a second opinion – and it mirrored the first analysis.)

A week after the brain surgery I had a massive grand mal brain seizure. I was in the hospital for over a week taking massive amounts of steroids to get the seizure under control. The Cipro I was taking to fight a bladder infection may have been a contributing factor in the second seizure. Don’t take Cipro if you have had a seizure.

After the brain surgery the docs prescribed Keppra for me. Since taking Keppra I’ve had no further seizures. I had an appointment with my new neurologist Friday, April 1. Inasmuch as I have been taking Keppra for over four years I asked the neurologist whether I could stop. He wrote in his report to me: “There is a substantial chance that you would have a (subsequent) seizure if you stopped the medication.” So the answer is ‘no.’ Additionally the neurologist said that if I stopped taking Keppra I would have to give up driving. He said that Keppra has few side effects – and that the generic version of Keppra is as good as the original, so stay on it.

The neurologist said I’m doing so well after four years there is a chance I will live a considerable time (with medications) and perhaps ultimately die of something else other than a brain tumor. I’ll take that chance and do all I can to neutralize the tumor. So…..keep taking your meds, eat well, exercise and don’t give up.

And, by all means listen to the April 1 ‘Science Friday’ program on NPR. The website address for the program is:

http://www.npr.org/2011/04/01/135042052/beyond-the-war-the-future-of-cancer-treatment

On the program is an interview with Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee. Dr. Mukherjee said researchers are working on new drugs that activate the immune system to fight cancer cells.

Comments

  • hope4GBM
    hope4GBM Member Posts: 7
    #2
    GBM and Keppra
    My husband is also on keppra. I'm so happy to hear that you are staying ahead of your GBM. He's only 7 months out and doing great and just recently began driving again.

    Are you still on meds for GBM? You sound great, do you have many side effects from all of this.

    Hope

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