Fluid in the brain

hrtbroken
hrtbroken Member Posts: 8
edited March 2014 in Brain Cancer #1
Hi all I'm a newbie here and I just want to say how wonderful I think CSN is. In my short time here so far I have met wonderful caring and understanding ppl. Thank you so much! Now, for my question. My brother was diagnosed with glioblastoma about 13 months ago. During a recent scheduled MRI appt. they had found fluid in his brain. Long story short, off to surgery he went to have a hole drilled into his head in hopes to get a sample of the fluid and to place in a shunt. Come to find out that draining any of the fluid was impossible. Now he must go through heavy bouts of chemo administered through the shunt and he has to have a spinal tap done to make sure that the cancer hasn't spred to the spine. In the meantime, my sister-in-law was told by his oncologist to spend as much quality time with him as possible. I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on me as to what this all means and if anyone else has experienced anything like this? Ty in advance and God Bless!

Hrtbroken

"LIVE well LAUGH often LOVE much"

Comments

  • TAremote
    TAremote Member Posts: 56 Member
    #2
    Good morning Hrtbroken.....
    I have a atage 4 GBM located on the occipitial lobe (vision), dx last July. I don't have fluid on the brain, and have had a fairly good report since Jan, with no new growth of the tumor. I wish I had some good advice for your brother, but the only advice I have is to get a second opinion. When I was dx, they gave me 4 months to live without treatment and 11 months with treatment. Well, as you might guess, I made it passed the 4 months, and will make it past the 11 month window. The second opinion I would get would be from a neurosugeron. As with all professions, there are good and bad. I have seen both. Dr's give us their best guess, and most of the time, these timelines are just averages. I would stay away from Dr's who present a doom and gloom attitude. Find someone that will shoot straight with you, but what will fight for your brother..
    I hope this in some way has helped.

    God Bless
    Tom
  • hrtbroken
    hrtbroken Member Posts: 8
    #3
    Thank you Tom for your reply. It has definitely given me a hope that wasn't there 5 minutes ago. Your advice about getting a second opinion is a very good one. I have called my brother to ask him that, if in fact he has gotten one. I haven't heard from him as of yet. If I have learned anything from this experience so far it is to ask lots of questions. I don't always like what I hear, but that's ok. I'm a stronger person each day for it.

    Thank you again Tom. Your reply has helped indeed. I wish you well.

    God Bless

    Hrtbroken

    "LIVE well LAUGH often LOVE much"

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