Ben a touching experience. Best of regards Geoff ... View more

GBMpartner has past the 3 month mark of having chemo. New MRI scan Oncologist reports tumour has significantly returned .............. maybe that the image just could be the activity of the chemo but unlikely...............#$@!!!! Our dog 14 years old and slowing down in physical abilities, collasped while on an easy walk 3 weeks ago, he got worse that day, he seems to be paralysised. saw vet - tumour /slipped disk or bleed on his spine at the base of his neck. Two weeeks later he seems to be improving - he was walking like being highly intoxicated, staggers, falls on face, side or where ever. Last Monday he collapsed again completely paralysised there is no muscle response in his legs, seems worse todate, no improvement since Monday appears permanent. The spark seems less in him, he looks like he is resigned ...going we are distressed Tomorrow we take him again to the vet, she is good and caring. It will probably be his last trip.... ... View more

GBMpartner has past the 3 month mark of having chemo. New MRI scan Oncologist reports tumour has significantly returned .............. maybe that the image just could be the activity of the chemo but unlikely...............#$@!!!! Our dog 14 years old and slowing down in physical abilities, collasped while on an easy walk 3 weeks ago, he got worse that day, he seems to be paralysised. saw vet - tumour /slipped disk or bleed on his spine at the base of his neck. Two weeeks later he seems to be improving - he was walking like being highly intoxicated, staggers, falls on face, side or where ever. Last Monday he collapsed again completely paralysised there is no muscle response in his legs, seems worse todate, no improvement since Monday appears permanent. The spark seems less in him, he looks like he is resigned ...going we are distressed Tomorrow we take him again to the vet, she is good and caring. It will probably be his last trip.... ... View more

GBMpartner has past the 3 month mark of having chemo. New MRI scan Oncologist reports tumour has significantly returned .............. maybe that the image just could be the activity of the chemo but unlikely...............#$@!!!! Our dog 14 years old and slowing down in physical abilities, collasped while on an easy walk 3 weeks ago, he got worse that day, he seems to be paralysised. saw vet - tumour /slipped disk or bleed on his spine at the base of his neck. Two weeeks later he seems to be improving - he was walking like being highly intoxicated, staggers, falls on face, side or where ever. Last Monday he collapsed again completely paralysised there is no muscle response in his legs, seems worse todate, no improvement since Monday appears permanent. The spark seems less in him, he looks like he is resigned ...going we are distressed Tomorrow we take him again to the vet, she is good and caring. It will probably be his last trip.... ... View more

Hi me old friend shit thats hard, Maxi was with you just before - hugs for you I've have not been around - had a mild depression last week unnerved me - seemed to come from nowhere but in hindsight propaby building up over the last few months so not been active /in contact hope your feelings have mellowed with Maxi gone Geoff ... View more

Hi CatBye warmest hugs I dont know of support groups except for this site. Suggest to check with your case manager at hospital. I assume that that your GBM has driven a huge spike into your life outcome. The following is a lot of my experience The initial diagnose is gut reaching experience, then the time to come to terms with the outcome. Grief and loss from what life has thrown at you, you can get any and all different emotions at any stage - anger at god, anger at people, depression, trying to cope, having to deal with people mostly you end up making it alright for them to feel comfortable not guilty about they are living you are dying. My partner Lorraine is maybe similar, they removed 95% of the tumour which I think is typical with the operation. The doctor she had - Dr Allan and the Prince Alfred surgeon Adam were excellent. Adam especially supportive and frank, came and sat with Lorraine and spoke of the tumour its aggressiveness and her life span available - he believes that she can get past Xmass providing that she does the radiation and chemo basically doubling her life span but there are no guarantees The treatments as I understand - different people will react different ways Some though few make it to 5 years, most others shorter, I think 15 months Lorraine has finished her radiotherapy she was initially concerned for a mask that is made to wear for the radiotherapy machine - so that you keep still during the process - she has claustrophobia - she got the operators to talk to her during the process to help distract her mind. If you have favourite music can get it piped into room as you get the radiation Prior to operation Lorraine had difficulty with speaking words simple words to like whats this thing its an arm (due to tumour)and has remained since - not sure if that is permanent as just after operation i believed that a lot of her language returned. But with the radiation and chemo it has lessened I am not sure but that may have been causing it. I suppose that I am hopeful. She is just finished her 2nd round of the chemo (oral form) She has had some low energy and bad days some times a bit nauseous, fragile - more so a few days at the end of that round of chemo A big issue is drivers licence it has a big impact on your independence having to rely on others to get around speak to your surgeon next time I believe that 3 months minimum after operation (then reassessed?) Do you have a belief system that works for you - it can help to get through some of the dark days There are a lot of supportive people on this site, some you may get close to I hope you do - it helps There is not a lot of information on the quality of life that I have come across and what there is available. There is another thread on this site titled Gbm grade 4 brain tumour suggest when you are ready to read it gives some insight of what can be with the progression of the gbm tumours there is another site that i was refered to again when you are ready (if that is ever possible) http://www.brainhospice.com/EndStageLandmarks.html http://www.brainhospice.com/DadsStory.html Also Beyound Blue has some leaflet titled Brain Tumours, depression and anziety disorders biggest of hugs Geoff ... View more

Deb I recon you are paranoid yeap, we all have various touches of it, However your present state paranoia sounds OK, actually your a bit on the normal side. Sounds as though you have end up being frazzled dealing with death, the loss, your grief the whole bit, become extra sensitive fed up. Recon you have every right to include a bit of paranoia if it does surface its just an overall part and it passes and its OK to have and experience - adds character & depth. Friends most are mainly helpless - they do not know how to handle your death sentence, (we as society have sanitised death placed it at arms length) how to make it all right its scary for them and you end up being helping them to be OK with you Organise them to do things for you palliavtive chemo - this is a crap outcome for you. I too would like to make it OK for you but that would "hold you psycologically & you cant move though all the emotions that come My history - my partner has a brain tumour removed Feb 2011 -pathology came back grade 4 GBM - life really sucks. We talk she teaches me and gets me back on track when I wander off. She just wants and needs to be listened to be acklowdged and she goes deep sometimes fragile with the chemo she makes it OK for me though. I talk to Andrew too, we talk good crap, he is good value as are others on this site - i see you are friends with him Hugs Deb Geoff ... View more

Doctors are like our partners (or closest significant others) they get to be our focal points when they dont answer in quiet appropriste ways They are trying.... LOL Re your comment "but like the way I read a recipe…" hmm .....yum a nice rubbarb & apple crumble in the making, now thats something to die for with the best of intentions & respect for your past/future experiences (especially that dark hole of depression) Hugs Geoff ... View more

Special hugs for you too Superwoman. A long time you have had together and yet its not that much. I feel your husband is also blessed by your being there, your nurturing, caring and love Be gentle with yourself if you fall flat. It hard looking on and can do no more. Sometimes it becomes a journey all on their own and the hopelessness takes hold. Thats hard and a place I get scared of. Hugs Geoff ... View more