Brain / CNS Tumors Support Group
A brain tumor is any intracranial tumor created by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division, normally either found in the brain itself, in the cranial nerves, in the brain envelopes, skull, pituitary and pineal gland, or spread from cancers primarily located in other organs (metastatic tumors). Brain tumors may be benign or malignant.
My father, 58, was diagnosed today with a glioblastoma. They said he has a fifty fifty chance of living 2 years. I'm in complete shock but the thing I cannot process is how to keep going when I feel as if the world has stopped moving. I'm sitting in my house feeling like I should be dropping everything, school, work, etc. to spend every moment left with him. I'm terrified of feeling guilty in the end for having tried to live life as normally as possible even though that's what he wants. I'm just not sure of anything or how to cope with what's happening. How do you go to work, school, anything knowing that your time with a loved one is limited? I'm not necessarily looking for a right answer because I know there are none, but I needed to put my thoughts and feelings out there because they are eating away at me. Knowing he may not even have grandchildren before he dies or that he will likely not see my 30th birthday is unbearable. I can't talk to my mom because she is trying to cope on her own and I don't want to burden her. My husband is great but doesn't completely understand. I just needed to write out all of this while my brain tries to makes heads or tails of what's happening. The support groups on this site have always been so wonderful and comforting to me. Thank you for reading my ramblings.
But you have shared the reality of loved ones and for that, thank you. Hopefully others will see that they are not alone. i don't know the answers but I do know you just being there and letting your loved one know you are is priceless. Yes, cherish each moment you have with your Dad, but as he has said, get on with it. Life's too short. My thoughts and prayers to you and your family. God bless.
MY DAD PASSED WITH LUNG CANCER IN 1995.
I WAS UNABLE 2 ATTEND THE FUNERAL CAUSE OF MY MYSTERIOUS ILLNESS WHICH TURNED OUT 2 B A BRAIN TUMOR.
I LIVE IN ANOTHER STATE, FAR AWAY.
I STILL MISS HIM..............................
MOM IS IN A NURSING HOME THERE FAR AWAY.......................
GBU
D
;-]
You're not alone, I know what you're going through! I would like to help where I can. And you can ask me anything. I send this not to make you feel bad, but I tell my story to you. This is how it went with me, and this is different for each person.
When I was 13, I heard that my father had a brain tumor (he was 50), I did not know exactly what it meant and how serious it was. But later he got an operation. They would cut off a part of the tumor, so they could investigate the doctors said. After this surgery, my father was on the left side of his body paralyzed. He had a very hard time, but always remained positive. Then it turned out that he had the dangerous tumor and that he would not survive. They gave him chemotherapy and radiation, but this only made him sicker. They also said that he had about a year. I was shocked, but did not believe it. I said, "My father is the strongest person out there, he would never give up and lose.'' For a while it went better and we got hope it was gone really quikly, after that he was then very rapidly. After three years of fighting my father lost the battle (53 years). I had just turned 17 years old. My dad was the strongest man I knew, really a hero if you ask me. His body was exhausted, he got a lung inflammation and so on. You could see his body stopped working, so did his fight end. I was devastated, I'm still devastated. I try to write the sadness off and that works pretty well. But remember, it's good to talk about with people (even with your father while you can). For example, try again to go on excursions together, to something you might already talked about already. If you make these plans, stick a date and fixed immediately. So don't do it like we did, we have a long list of everything we wanted to do together. Also search for something you can put your emotions into, this can be anything. But remember, don't forget to have fun and do relaxing things! This is very important, otherwise there is a big chance of depression.
All the best!
A kiss and a big hug from me, and remember that you can always ask for help.
Love,
Savannah
(sorry if my English is bad)