Hi. Just a quick post to share because I am stunned right now. I received word this AM that one of my best friends is in the hospital and was told she has brain cancer. I don't know details yet, she hasn't had a biopsy, just MRI (which leads me to believe her 'diagnosis' to be irresponsible and cruel) has anyone been diagnosed without a biopsy? I didn't believe that to be possible.
Anyway, more details as I know them. I'm not looking forward to this but do feel quite thankful to have all of you.
xoxo Annie
Hello Annie,
ReplyDeleteAlthough I think they can pretty accurately assume if it is glioma or something else (especially in big brain cancer centers) they can't tell 100% for sure that your friend has brain cancer (or at least which kind) without biopsy.
In my country where I think the doctors don't have much experience with low grade gliomas I was told by 3 different doctors that I MOST PROBABLY have low grade astrocytoma...the pathology after surgery then showed low grade oligodendroglioma.
Annie, I'm so sorry - coming so soon after your dad. We weren't given a diagnosis until after my husband's biopsy but I later got a copy of notes from the hospital to the doctor which said MRI suggested a high grade glioma. Not sure why they didn't share that with us - they were all so positive after his surgery we expected a benign diagnosis so it was a massive shock.
ReplyDeleteHopes and prayers that the outcome turns out to be better than you fear x
Hi Annie. I followed your dads story so feel very sorry that you are dealing with this again.
ReplyDeleteMy dads doctors told him he had a grade 4 malignant glioma just from looking at the MRI. I think his was very obvious.
Annie, It seems quite impossible, doesn't it? Keep us posted. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
ReplyDeleteAnnie- We are so sorry to hear this news. It was a very harsh reality when the neurosurgeon matter-of-factly said I had GBM based on the MRI. The next day I had a craniotomy, and yes the pathology confirmed GBM. There were no time delays for which to this day I am very thankful. I think often patient's care is delayed too much while getting scheduled for a biopsy...then waiting for biopsy results...then getting scheduled for surgery...etc., I think an early and complete resection by an experienced neuro-surgeon is so very key to increase the chance of survivability. Your friend is so fortunate to have you in her corner to help fight this disease.
ReplyDeleteWe'll hope for the best,
Mike B.
Well-said. My wife's glioblastoma looked pretty characteristic on MRI. It could possibly then have turned out to be a metastasis of a cancer from elsewhere, or lower-grade glioma, but it was, indeed, GBM.
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