Where do I start? I’m running out of options. Maybe the facts, then the thoughts and my future!
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March 2014 – I was diagnosis with a Grade 3 brain tumour, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford UK.
April 2014 – Underwent a 6 hours awake craniotomy (awake for my brain surgery), Salford Royal Hospital, Salford UK.
May – July 2014 – Radiotherapy, Christie Hospital, Manchester UK.
June 2015 – May 2016 – My brain cancer comes back and I have chemotherapy (temozolomide) for 11 months, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney Australia.
May 2016 – My brain cancer comes back yet again, but now at the worst form, a Grade 4 GBM. Not only that, but while I was still on temozolomide chemo. I underwent another awake craniotomy, Princesses Alexandria Hospital, Brisbane Australia.
June – July 2016 – After a short recovery from surgery I start the older form of brain chemo (PCV), Princesses Alexandria Hospital, Brisbane Australia.
August 2016 – after 2 cycles of PCV chemo it is deemed not effective.
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The next step, Avastin. Avastin is an intravenous infusion that aims to disrupt the blood supply to the tumour, stopping or slowing down its growth. It is NOT a chemo. I am not excepting Avastin to stop the cancer, but I am paying the c. $20,000 in hopefully use my right side of my whole body while I enjoy my life!
My thoughts? The scans and doctors appointment was not great, but that’s what I was expecting. My right side has been deteriorating and I have been able to do less and less cognitively and physically. The docs and I don’t know what is expecting for my life. This Avastin could work to buy me more time, or maybe it wont. I may have 6months left in my life, 18months left, or the hopeful longer time period!
The unknown is the worrying factor. But then anybody could have an accident. The difference is a cancer patient is reminding every day, every hour. I accept this, I thinking about it, deal with it, and then enjoy life and appreciate every today I can! Some days are harder than others to deal with, but with the support around me I am able to wake up every day looking forward to the sun and what the day holds. Even if I can’t now use my right side in for body.
My ‘adopted’ family, the Dank family in Brisbane, have been there while my parents move their entire lives to Brisbane. Over 3-5 months, the Dank’s have taken the to hospital every week, shared the highs and lows of cancer, being my support of laughter or silence as I need, and have shown me more support than anybody could imagine. And for this I am truly gratefully for everything that they do!
For now, it’s a waiting game. I have the Avastin drug at the Greenslopes Hospital (Brisbane, Australia) from late August to December 2016 and as always, keep enjoying life!
Mex
