My Brain Tumor

[Captain Ice]

Well, the neurologist told me the biopsy is fairly "routine" or at least done fairly often. It's even an out patient surgery!

Oh it IS very routine. But I'd still be worried - I think it's perfectly natural to be worried about this sort of thing!

Me too. I'm living proof that even the most routine surgeries can have complications.

Trekker, the fact that you are concerned about this is a good thing. .

 

[Kirby]

Oh Trekker I'm sorry to hear about your tumor. I'll keep a good thought for you. I hope it's benign.

 

[RoJoHen]

Trekkah's got a tumah!

Maybe it will give you powers!

 

[T'Bonz]

Is it bad that I immediately thought of this:

"My Brain Hurts."

"It'll have to come out!"

Hope the tumor comes out to be benign.

 

[RAMA]

I've talked about this in TNZ but I also want to post here for those who do not (or cannot) post in TNZ.

A few weeks ago I talked to my family doctor about some mild seizures I was having, she thought my thyroid felt enlarged and she also set-me up with a neurologist.

I saw the ENT (Ears, Nose, Throat) Doctor about a nodule on my thyroid adter some scans I had done and he felt we'd play wait-and-see with it to see if it grows.

The neurologist has me do some MRIs which I had done yesterday morning, in the afternoon my doctor called me personally to see him today (moving my follow up appointment up by a full day.) Turns out the MRI scans showed a growth in the left hippocampus area of my brain. It's about as big as a large grape (2cm by 3cm) and right now is believed to be benign. I've got to have a biopsy done on it soon and following that treatment will decided. If it is benign I'll simply take medication for the seizures and will have to have an MRI done twice a year to watch the tumor. If it's turns out to be malignant I'll have to have radiation therapy (the tumor is inopperable.)

So that's where I'm at now. Family and friends have been with me, which is great to have considering what I'm going through.

Where's Doctor House when you need him?

Get better Trekker!

RAMA

 

[Crusher Disciple]

I'm just kind of wondering what they do to cover up and protect the hole in my skull until the skin and bone grows back. (And I can't see the bone growing back all that quickly.)

The bone will grow back- they had to drill 2 holes in my skull when I had surgery a a kid. The crappy thing was that the hair follicles were gone, but I managed to cover up the bald spots with about 3 tons of hair.

 

[Colonel Green]

Good luck.

 

[RoJoHen]

Just think of all the fun wigs you can play with!

 

[StolenThunder]

The hole is really, really tiny. It's been a while since I've seen one done, but IIRC, they just place a single stitch holding the skin from either side of the hole together, to close it up. The procedure may have changed over the years though, so don't take my word as gospel on this. But I suspect it's basically the same.

My understanding is that they now use a Ceti Alpha Eel.

Good luck Trekker.

 

[greenguy]

May the power of 47 shine over you.
Love,
A Pomona Alum, from the year of 47's 47th anniversary!

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

Best of luck with it, Trekker. Hopefully it's just a benign.

 

[RobertScorpio]

I've talked about this in TNZ but I also want to post here for those who do not (or cannot) post in TNZ.

A few weeks ago I talked to my family doctor about some mild seizures I was having, she thought my thyroid felt enlarged and she also set-me up with a neurologist.

I saw the ENT (Ears, Nose, Throat) Doctor about a nodule on my thyroid adter some scans I had done and he felt we'd play wait-and-see with it to see if it grows.

The neurologist has me do some MRIs which I had done yesterday morning, in the afternoon my doctor called me personally to see him today (moving my follow up appointment up by a full day.) Turns out the MRI scans showed a growth in the left hippocampus area of my brain. It's about as big as a large grape (2cm by 3cm) and right now is believed to be benign. I've got to have a biopsy done on it soon and following that treatment will decided. If it is benign I'll simply take medication for the seizures and will have to have an MRI done twice a year to watch the tumor. If it's turns out to be malignant I'll have to have radiation therapy (the tumor is inopperable.)

So that's where I'm at now. Family and friends have been with me, which is great to have considering what I'm going through.

Keep your own copies of scans and records, Trekker, to make the process easier as you see different doctors. It may seem like a hassle, but it's worth it.
Get second opinions if possible,
and remember we are thinking of you.

opali's advice here is well founded.

When I was dealing with my own medical condition, which evetually led to a Quadruple Bypass, it was very important to have copies of everything. They ended up sending me to different places for this or that, so I took everything with me so that I had the comfort of knowing they were always on the same page.

You're condition sounds like you will be having many appointments and follow ups, more so than I did, so its a good thing for your own piece of mind to know that they are all on the same page too.

As our good friend Spock would say, "Statistically speaking, I am quite confident it will be found to be benign."

Take care, and best wishes.

Rob

 

[Ruaidhri]

best of luck Treker. Thinking good thoughts for you!

 

[Trippy]

Good luck with your procedure! Postive thoughts for the benign diagnosis

 

[Holdfast]

The hole is really, really tiny. It's been a while since I've seen one done, but IIRC, they just place a single stitch holding the skin from either side of the hole together, to close it up. The procedure may have changed over the years though, so don't take my word as gospel on this. But I suspect it's basically the same.

My understanding is that they now use a Ceti Alpha Eel.

Medical science is really quite remarkable these days.

 

[startrekrcks]

aww sorry to hear about your brain tumour hope this turns out beign fingers crossed for you and that you recover and not get worse.

 

[Capn Flukie]

I would say 'good luck' Trekker, but in these types of situations I say I hope you have competent doctors, no 'luck' involved.

Get better dude.

 

[TheSeeker]

Sending positive vibes your way Trekker.

 

[Sparky]

All I can say is keep up the good spirits. From what you have said so far is that this is a slow growing thing, benign and a routine procedure. Can't really ask for more than that at this point. I'm sure it will all work out just fine.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Best of luck, man.