If I followed everyone's post, Sandra's son, Hammy's husband, and my partner would have MRI scan on this Friday. Three people in three places will have a scan for the same beast on the same day. That's three time nervousness but I hope we have three times as much luck! ... View more

Good on you Rubes! You've got to fight it! ... View more

Hi Geoff - sorry to hear you are in this situation now and there is not much I can do to help. It sounds very tough and I have no idea how I can handle all this if it is my turn. I find it is hard just to imagine what you and Lorraine have been through. It does bring me back to reality but I have to admit that I did skip reading the details as it is too painful to know what could happen. I hope you are doing OK and take care of yourself. ... View more

Hi Janine, Sorry to hear this. Being a carer once is bad enough, I can't imagine doing it all over again. Feel free to let it out here whatever you feel. I do it as a way to get things out of my system. Take care. ... View more

Thanks for the info. Groenevelt68. I did read from some where about mushroom like effects of GBM. The worst thing that can happen is new tumour(s) may not have the same cancer cells as the original one so the drug only works for one but not another which is what happened to my partner. ... View more

I read this book. It provides you with Ben's journey with GBM, treatment options, and I think I stopped reading at the third part of the book which talks about problem with American health care system. My first impression of the book is that it gave me hope which in a way was good but on the other hand, I felt lost and frustrated when the doctors here did not agree to try anything but standard treatment. When standard treatment failed, you have 3 choices: try next chemo that is subsidised by the gov., find a clinical trial that sounds promising and hope that you can participate, or paying for your own next promising drug, Avastin - if your prognosis is not good and hope for the best. Ok, back to the book, if you are interested in the treatment options, it's best to read Ben's pdf file which is available from virtualtrials website, if I remember correctly. If you want to know about his experience with GBM, I find it's interesting but a bit short. I read Dr Chris O'Brien's book, Never Say Die, in hope that I would learn a bit about GBM and felt disappointed by the amount of content on GBM included in his book. I also read Life in His Hands which is about Dr Charlie Teo and a young pianist who was one of his patients, Aaron McMillan. I find this book is quite interesting in a way. It helps me understand what my partner has experienced. Something he tried to tell me and I couldn't understand, the author of this book captured and explained it well in the book. Having said that, talking with people here or other forums are pretty good as well. ... View more

Sorry to hear about your mum's illness. I don't know what type of chemo your mum will have. It shouldn't be too bad as they seem to have whatever pills to stop you from feeling sick from chemo. My partner has brain tumour and his first chemo is in the form of tablets. He also had anti-nausea wafer to take beforehand to stop him from feeling sick which worked well. His main problem is tiredness and it's quite frustrating when he wants to do things but feeling tired most of the time. My partner feels fine talking about his illness but there are times when things aren't going so well that he wants people to leave him alone. ... View more

Congratulation Maz! ... View more

Hi Terese, Sorry to hear that your husband is not doing so well. My partner said to me that there was only one way of thinking and that was we were going to beat it or live with it for a long time. So I guess it's the way they fight and deal with this beast. It seems to them there is no grey area where they come to terms with what's happening and not losing hope. For now, I'm happy that we are fighting even though I sometimes wonder how and why I have to know this beast and wish it is over soon. Well, I hope this journey is not too hard on you. Take care. ... View more