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Original poster

A friend of mine has just been diagnosed with a brain tumour

99 replies

PrincessPeaHead · 01/05/2007 13:35

I'm in shock. Massive tumour, surgery tomorrow, shadow on her lung as well. Prognosis pretty crap I'd say
Late thirties, one 3 year old daughter, one dh who completely adores her.
She was fine when I saw her last week, but complaining of headaches
I'm in shock
I feel sick

OP posts:

PeachyChocolateEClair · 03/05/2007 21:43

My boss died of breast cancer at 35, and she said to me (a youngster at the time) everybody says be optimistic because they've heard it helps. But i'm the ill one, I'm the one who will probably not be alinve ina year, why on earth can't they let me, of all fucking poeple, feel miserable just sometimes? She had a point.

On the other hand when I worked for Macmillan (fundraising, not the helping stuff) we weren't allowed to refer to people as victims / sufferers etc- it was all journeys and experiences .

Do make her aware if she needs it what macmillan can do- as well as the well known nurses and the info line I pointed out earlier they do a little known grant scheme where cancer patients on a low income (ie most of them) can get help for teh stuff that seems so basic- car parking, smaller clothes, extra heating, even holidays and weddings.

mummylin2495 · 03/05/2007 22:08

pph i have written about this before but my grandmother had an orange size brain tumour removed when she was 62 yrs old ,i am happy to tell you that although they left a little piece of it still in her head ,we were so lucky to have her with us for another 22 years wishing your friend well.

onlytheone · 03/05/2007 22:59

So sorry, what a shock. Friend also had huge brain tumour which was remove a year ago. He is doing great but obviously there is an additional worry here. Life is can be so cruel.

magnolia1 · 03/05/2007 23:12

Have recently lost a friend due to a brain tumour (it was never operable )

Huge prayers from me for your friend xxxxx

SoupDragon · 04/05/2007 11:20

Could the shadow on the lung be something as "innocent" as pneumonia if she's had a persitant cough? I remember when DS1 had Pneumonia his cheast Xray showed a shadow. Wildly optimistic maybe but just a thought.

Well done for not googling - I learnt my lesson when I googled the name of my mother's consultant when she was having a hysterectomy and discovered he was a cancer specialist - even she hadn't noticed that and I thought i was going to have to tell her.

Hope your friend's getting stronger x

chocolateteapot · 04/05/2007 11:27

Just seen this, so sorry

My MIL had cancer of the esophagos diagnosed just over a year ago. She had chemo/radiotherapy and some experimental drug treatment which means she is supposedly (in Spain, language issue) currently clear of cancer. However last Autumn she had breathing difficulties and collapsed, scans showed a shadow on the lungs. I was absolutely convinced she had a secondary tumour in her lungs but apparently it was pneumonia. Will have my fingers well and truly crossed for your friend.

PeachyChocolateEClair · 04/05/2007 11:44

You're right SD_ trhere was a thing in the Times abot medics not being encouraged to use Occams Razor now- the ideas that you should narrow trhings down to as few scenarios as poss. not necessarily being always right- for instance someone with a tumour migt have reduced immunity and so be prone to chest infection; that sort of idea.

Original poster

PrincessPeaHead · 09/05/2007 20:28

Hi everybody
I need some good stories about Grade IV gliomas please
that's a challenge and a half

Only bright side is that lung appears to be nothing - brain the primary

shit it is awful

OP posts:

Sunyshineymummy · 09/05/2007 20:34

Agree with PCE, Macmillan are amazing and can help all of you. Unfortunately my mum died of a brain tumour, aged 39.

marthamoo · 09/05/2007 20:36

I don't even know what that is, pph, but I'm guessing not good news. I'm so sorry.

carocaro · 09/05/2007 20:39

thinking of you and your friend xx

Original poster

PrincessPeaHead · 09/05/2007 20:49

Oh sunyshineymummy I'm so sorry

OP posts:

Pollyanna · 09/05/2007 20:49

pph I'm really sorry to hear about your friend.

I would also suggest looking at the Macmillan website -there is a chat page at the moment which is a chat page for people with brain tumours and their families/friends which may be of some help/support.

Original poster

PrincessPeaHead · 09/05/2007 20:52

thanks very much everyone

I did what calif told me not to and googled

shit

off the the macmillan website now

OP posts:

pooka · 09/05/2007 20:52

PPH, I really really have fingers crossed for your friend.
Don't know anything about Gliomas, but hope that a mixture of radiotherapy and medication may be able to help her, and that it hasn't spread agressively.
Thinking of you both.

onlyjoking9329 · 09/05/2007 20:56

i know a bit about Gliomas, this is what DH has they can't grade his until biopsy, thou they are hoping it is grade 2 as it is slow growing.

Califrau · 09/05/2007 21:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

onlyjoking9329 · 09/05/2007 21:27

they told us that a glioma is like a jelly type substance and not a typical shape, there are three different types, low grade 1-2 high grade 3-4 and mixed grade, usually treatment is removal and radiotheraphy.
low grade are slow growing and can take ten years to show symptoms and are more likely to not be cancerous, high grade are faster growing and more likely to be cancerous mixed is both together.
the above is what we were told but i can't be certain it is all correct just our understanding of what we were told and to be honest we were in shock so perhaps didn't absorb all the info.

Original poster

PrincessPeaHead · 09/05/2007 23:18

oh onlyjoking I'm really sorry. Grade 2 is a completely different kettle of fish to Grade 4, so fingers tightly crossed that that's what it is. Must be really worrying for you, lots of love.

OP posts:

hatwoman · 09/05/2007 23:36

pph I hope you have good news. I know how awful and shocking this kind of thing is. A friend of mine was rushed to hospital about a year ago and had a tumour removed. It shook me to my core. It made me want to abandon all friendships as I couldn;t conceive of coping with the pain they would one day bring. but we all know that's barmy, and we all know we have to get through pain like this. and we do.

I can't tell you what type my friends was but in fact she's made a near full recovery. I wish the very best for your friend and for you.

TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 09/05/2007 23:47

I don't know whether to be happy that her lungs are clear or sad because a Grade IV glioma sounds quite serious.

My father had a brain tumour removed successfully but it was secondary cancer and had already taken hold of lungs & liver. His prog. was 6mths but he survived a further 2 years. He was only 60.

Easy on the googling but do discuss anything worrying that you find with a real Dr.

And if you've run out of jokes to text her, send her photo's instead. How about a photo per day of one of your chickens in an unusual place - driving the car, in a casserole dish, on a deckchair. It would make ME laugh!

onlyjoking9329 · 14/05/2007 21:19

How is your friend PPH ? i have been thinking about her

wishingchair · 15/05/2007 14:25

Yes, how is she? My DH has been diagnosed with a brain tumour. Looks like it is intermediate grade from the MRI but biopsy couldn't grade it although there were some indications it was high grade. We were told 1-2 year prognosis (based on the high grade bit), then second opinion said 5-10 years (based on what the MRI shows). Radio/chemo starts this week. Surgery not possible for him. We have 2 children (8 mths and 4 yrs). I cry about it every day but somehow you have to carry on. We;re also eating v.healthily, lots of freshly made juice, exercise etc etc. Everywhere I look at the moment there are things about being widowed young. So bloody miserable.

onlyjoking9329 · 28/06/2007 13:09

how is your friend PPH? and how is your DH wishing chair?

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