GBM grade IV and Keppra

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.