The American Brain Tumor Association is raising money to fund brain tumor research. This is why it matters to me.
In July 2019, I was diagnosed with a Spheno-Orbital Meningioma. A common type of brain tumor located in a rare space behind my left eye. The tumor was essentially pushing my eye out of my head.
Only about four cases like mine are treated at Cleveland Clinic each year and they get patients from around the world.
I underwent a craniotomy in October 2019, knowing the surgery would not be able to remove all the tumor.
I was left with a ten inch scar from the middle of my head to behind my left ear that required 51 staples and three titanium plates to replace the pieces of my skull that had to be removed because of tumor that had infiltrated my bone.
I could whine about all the side effects surgery left behind, including nerve damage and a myriad of others, but the bottom line is I survived. What we don't know is for how long.
Residual tumor remains on the back of my left eye and left eye socket. It's crushing my optic nerve and carotid artery and invading my cranial and facial bones. Attempting to remove it would have left me blind or been fatal. Think of throwing an egg against a brick wall and then trying to clean it up.
Eighteen months after my first surgery, I learned my tumor had spread and was moving toward my cavernous sinus, which is also where my carotid artery is located and invading tumor would be potentially life threatening.
In December of 2021 I underwent a second brain surgery called the TONES procedure. Trans orbital neuro-endoscopic surgery is minimally invasive as it goes through the crease of the eyelid to reach the brain tumor.
My surgeons were able to remove additional tumor, which essentially just made room for the tumor to grow, or to put it simply, it bought me time.
There is no cure for my situation. Treatment options are severely limited and essentially nothing more than band aids. Radiation may be one, but because my tumor is so spread out it it will be incredibly difficult to do. It won't stop tumor growth, it may only slow it down. It may also impact my cognitive ability because this tumor is located on the left side of my brain and with my type of tumor, there's a chance radiation could make the remaining tumor malignant.
Every six months I get an MRI to learn if the tumor is spreading. It's pretty nerve wracking to live this way, and I'm always searching for new medical innovations that may be able to help.
That's where ABTA comes in. They're funding the next generation of answers that brilliant scientists are trying to find and with your help, maybe, someday, there will be hope for people like me.
You can help. give.abta.org/...
Негізгі бет Brain Tumor Research is severely underfunded
Пікірлер: 1