Father just diagnosed with GBM, now what.

m2tno
m2tno Member Posts: 1
in Brain Cancer #1

My 85 year old dad just lost his wife of 59 years Dec. 2nd 2013.

He has gone through chemo to fight Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. He survived.

He has fought prostate cancer. He survived.

About 2 weeks ago we noticed that he was having some memory problems. This seemed to get worse the next week. So on Sat. 3/22/14 we took him to the hospital. At first they thought it was a viral infection because of the results of a spinal tap. However, the MRI showed something else. They are calling it a GBM Tumor. 

Not knowing much about this tumor I did a quick google search and what I found scared the crap out of me. We are still in the early stages of diagsosing this. The next step being a biopsy.

Right now I am not sure what to do, how I should talk to him or the doctors to make the right descisions. He is still having memory problems.

Any words of advice would be greatly appreciated.

Comments

  • shoe01
    shoe01 Member Posts: 1
    #2
    Take courage

    My mother was recently diagnosed as well.  She had her biopsy in January and it was then revealed that she has grade 4 brain cancer.  She just finished 5 weeks of radiation and we are living day to day.  We're trying to be hopeful and we're trying to be strong but as you noted, this cancer is super scary.  Not too many happy outcomes...

    My mom forbade me to cry.  For her, I'm putting on a strong face and trying to keep her spirit up.  We go for walks, I remind her of our times together and I chide her when she starts to get depressed.  A sense of normalcy, no matter how superficial, seems to be precious to her.  She is currently at home and I have heard that for someone struggling to hold on to their memory, it is important to be in a familiar environment.

    Like you though, we are not sure about what to do next.  The doctors seem to already be writing her off as a lost cause which is infuriating.  We are hoping for the best but bracing ourselves for the worst.  I hope you find a community- a place where you can vent your frustrations and sorrow.  I wish you peace and your father comfort.

    Be strong and enjoy the time you have now.

     

  • dietmarlh
    dietmarlh Member Posts: 3
    #3
    GBM Tumor for almost 7 years

    It sounds as if you dad is a fighter. He will need that and his family support as you have done in the past. I am a survivor of a GBN stage 4. It was Dec. of 2007 that I had the surgery then radiation and chemo. The chemo lasted 2 years. I do bi-yearly MRIs and I am 54 years old. “They” gave me 18 months and I will be grateful and excited to hit 7 years this December.

    There is hope and God numbers our days!

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