Husband Has Brain Tumor

[BeckyEsq]

Hi everyone. A couple of months ago I had just started planning our daughter's first trip to WDW. I haven't been around lately because on the Monday before Thanksgiving my husband was diagnosed with a primary brain tumor on his left temporal lobe. It is a Grade 3 and he is currently receiving radiation and chemotherapy. They cannot operate because he would lose his speech. He is 38 years old. Our daughter is 2. I would appreciate any prayers that you might send our way. For now our trip is still going to go forward, although I may need some advice if we find we have to move it for some reason. We will have a better sense of what is happening after he finishes his treatments and has a scan done a month later (in March). Things have been very difficult as I am trying to hold down a full time job, care for our daughter while my husband is not able to help like he used to do, and care for him as well. I know many people here have dealt with cancer themselves and for family members, and I just appreciate any thoughts, prayers or even advice. I really enjoy this community so just wanted to share.

Becky

 

[Brook730]

Oh wow I am so sorry to hear that you all will be in my thoughts and prayers. We are all here if you need advice or just need to talk.

 

[Happy 2 B Me]

I am sending loads of good thoughts your way. Why this happens, I wish I knew. My heart goes out to you. Stay strong. Being the care giver is hard let alone working full time and having a toddler to care for all the while having a very sick husband who is more then likely wondering why him. Lets all pray that the tumor gets so little it actually can't be seen.

Bless you .

 

[jennyjinx3]

 

[lilmissbehaved]

Becky-

If you need someone to talk to please feel free to reach out to me via PM... my husband (6 years back and he's now 38) had a primary brain tumor (stage 2). He had successful surgery at the time but it came back about a year ago now and he had proton beam radition.. My kids are 4 and 9.. Know sometimes being the care giver is hard and just wanted to put it out there that i have had similar experiences if you need to vent.

Grace

 

[mommasita]

I'm so sorry your family has to go through this

I will most absolutely keep you all in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you have some sort of help for yourself as well. That has to be most difficult at any time, but will a young child even more so.

This is a great community, you are so right on. Check on in whenever you can or feel you would like to..XO

 

[AnnaS]

I am so sorry for what your family is going through.......you will be added to my prayers.

 

[Sabeking]

Praying for your family and the doctors handling his care!

 

[Srbright]

Not much help but a ray of hope. My father had a brain tumor. That was 16 years ago and he is still going strong.

Don't lose hope.

Stacy

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Hi Becky,

Has anyone mentioned using a gamma knife radiation on the tumor? Gamma Knife is a powerful ray of radiation that is used on non operative tumors. My mom had a brain tumor and they used this on her and is shunk her tumor. Currently a friend of the family has also had the gamma knife and his tumor shrunk.

The treatment involves a one time high dose of radiation that will continue to shrink the tumor over several months.

The Cleveland Clinic here in Ohio is a great place to seek help. Here is a link for you

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/brain_tumor/services/gamma_knife_radiosurgery/default.aspx

 

[disneydee6]

My aunt was diagnosed with stage IV brain cancer several years ago, doctors giving her less than a year to live. Well, she lived and battled it for 5 years after the diagnosis. Your journey isn't an easy one or fair one, but stay strong and you have my prayers! My best to you and your family.

 

[DisneyFairytale]

Sorry to read about the news. It must be so difficult. Please keep us posted on how he is doing. E-Hugs sent your way.

 

[MomiTo2SwtGuys]

So sorry for what you are going through. I know it has to be tough to take care of a small child, work and be the caregiver for your husband. Sending tons of prayers your way. I hope you will be able to go on your disney trip as a family.

 

[crackerjack21]

Thoughts and prayers are out to you. My brother had a brain tumour 20 years ago. Gave him 3 months to live. Said they never saw anything like it. It was like a web throughout his brain, inoperable. He lived 15 years and it was a good life. Worked, played etc. Most of the time in remission. He passed 10 years ago. Research has come so far since his passing. Don't lose hope.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Prayers to your whole family. It is definitely tough to juggle taking care of everyone AND holding down a full time job. While not the same, my husband did have cancer many years back and it can be exhausting trying to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You just do what you can, and not try to do too much. Laundry needs to get done? Yeah..it can wait another day. Try to take a little time for yourself.

I think planning a trip to Disney can help take you away from reality for just a bit. Whether it's planning your ADRs, or watching Youtube videos of the rides, getting planning advice on the DIS.....it can all be therapeutic in a sense!

Please keep us updated!

 

[branv]

No advice, just wanted to say how sorry I am for all that you and your family are going through. Sending my best for your husbands health and recovery, as well as for your own peace during this time.

 

[BelleMaria]

I really love the idea that you are still open and pushing forward with the trip ( as long as he is well enough).

In my relationship I am not the caregiver, I am the sick one. But try to keep as positive as you can in this situation. If you have problems dealing with it please reach out to friends,family, and even professional help. Being a caregiver can be very hard. Trying to keep everything together and yet trying to stay positive for not only yourself but the other person is so important.

I will say that like many others on this board I also had a family member diagnosed with a brain tumor back in the mid 80's. She ended up living another 25+ years. Probably would have lived longer but dealt with some other medical issues. So there is hope!

Sending out my prayers

 

[BeckyEsq]

Thank you everyone for your kind posts! Things have improved greatly since I was last here. They took my husband off the steroids he was on and he is SO much better without them. They were really causing huge personality changes, sleep disorders, moodiness etc. and I am so happy to have my husband back now that he is off them. That has made my day to day life much easier. He is feeling pretty well right now and has only 8 more radiation treatments. After that he will receive chemo pills 5 days a month for at least 6 months. I think we are past the hardest part of the treatment though. We won't know if anything is working for a couple of more months but I am hopeful because he has not had any more of the symptoms he had when the tumor presented itself.

Someone asked about gamma knife. I believe his tumor was too large for that, but he is receiving radiation from a brain radiation specialist at UPMC here in Pittsburgh. I believe he is in good hands and getting the best treatment available for his current condition.

Planning the trip is VERY therapeutic. I figure worst case scenario we would have to move everything but we will definitely be going eventually so might as well continue to pay on it etc. I did ask his doctor if he would be okay to travel in August and he said sure, no problem. Planning to book our flights tomorrow and start making ADR's next week.

 

[AnnaS]

Thank you everyone for your kind posts! Things have improved greatly since I was last here. They took my husband off the steroids he was on and he is SO much better without them. They were really causing huge personality changes, sleep disorders, moodiness etc. and I am so happy to have my husband back now that he is off them. That has made my day to day life much easier. He is feeling pretty well right now and has only 8 more radiation treatments. After that he will receive chemo pills 5 days a month for at least 6 months. I think we are past the hardest part of the treatment though. We won't know if anything is working for a couple of more months but I am hopeful because he has not had any more of the symptoms he had when the tumor presented itself.

Someone asked about gamma knife. I believe his tumor was too large for that, but he is receiving radiation from a brain radiation specialist at UPMC here in Pittsburgh. I believe he is in good hands and getting the best treatment available for his current condition.

Planning the trip is VERY therapeutic. I figure worst case scenario we would have to move everything but we will definitely be going eventually so might as well continue to pay on it etc. I did ask his doctor if he would be okay to travel in August and he said sure, no problem. Planning to book our flights tomorrow and start making ADR's next week.

Thank you for coming back with the update. You must have a ton of things to do and a ton of stuff in your mind. Happy planning - I know it's a great prescription for the whole family.

 

[NumberOneDisneyFan]

My thoughts are with you...