There isn’t a lot of concrete information out there about what changes to expect following brain cancer treatment. Part of that is because it can vary so much depending on the person. So, as I’ve gotten quite used to on this journey, I learn as I go. Side Effects vs Symptoms It has always been…
All posts in Cancer Diagnosis
After Chemo: What Comes Next
I was taking an oral chemotherapy drug, Temodar, from October 2022-August 2023. My last day of Temodar was Thursday 8/31/23. With that being finished and behind me, many are wondering what comes next after chemo. Did I beat cancer? Am I now in remission? Are my tumors gone? How do I feel? Will I be…
Medical Tourism
Prior to my cancer journey I had a big misconception that the U.S. was top tier when it came to healthcare. As my journey has progressed I’ve learned so much about the reality of things. I have come to find out the US is severely lacking in so many areas. The Commonwealth Fund completed a…
Latest Glioma Research
Gliomas are the most common type of brain tumor in adults. There are 4 main types of gliomas: ependymoma, astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, and glioblastoma. Within each type of glioma there are grades that indicate the severity of the tumor. Glioblastoma is the most aggressive form of brain cancer with an average survival of less than 10…
Brain Cancer Awareness Month
Nearly 1 million Americans are currently living with a brain tumor. In 2023, an estimated 94,390 people will be diagnosed with a brain tumor. Considering those alarming statistics, it’s unfortunate that we aren’t much farther along in our research and treatments. May happens to be a month with a lot of recognition including national Brain…
Support Resources for Cancer Patients
It’s important to know what resources are available to you if you’re battling cancer – it can be very lonely, even if you’re surrounded with love. There are so many support resources for cancer patients available through the cancer community. There is a whole community out there of cancer patients and survivors who can relate…
Temodar – What is Oral Chemo Like?
If you’re like me, when you think of chemotherapy you think of sitting in a chair everyday getting chemotherapy through an IV, losing all of your hair, and feeling sick and weak. I was so afraid at the thought of it. When I was told that I would be doing oral chemotherapy I didn’t know…
Cancer Clusters – What’s Causing This?
A common question is what caused my brain cancer. The only known thing that could lead to this would be radiation exposure, which I never had prior to my radiation treatments this past fall. There is not a genetic factor for this condition. Unfortunately it seems that even less is known about brain cancer than…
Health Anxiety
Health anxiety is a heavy burden to carry. Health anxiety is more than just occasional worrying about illness – it’s when it becomes disproportionate and unreasonable compared to your circumstances. Healthy anxiety is also different than being a hypochondriac, although they can often go hand-in-hand. Recently I’ve been reading about cyberchondria which is a clinical…
Reflecting
Approaching the new year feels a little different this year. Not only are we entering a new year, but it’ll also be the 1 year mark since my symptoms firsts began. Instead of focusing on resolutions in the new year I think a lot about what has happened this past year. I still haven’t quite…