Diagnosis: Anaplastic Astrocytoma 3 1993
Last Updated: 1/17/2007
In early 1993 at age 36 I began experiencing involuntary muscular spasms in my right arm. A neurological exam suspected these to be focal seizures. I was sent to have an MRI on April 22 of that year. Barely two hours after the scan I received a phone call stating that "they found something." Thus began a long, life-altering journey.
The "something" identified on MRI was an enhancing lesion in my left frontal lobe. I was put on anti-seizure medications, which somewhat contained but did not stop the seizure episodes. For several months the lesion was misdiagnosed until the possibilities began to point to a primary brain tumor. I sought additional medical opinions and was told it was likely a low-grade glioma. The strategies offered to me contrasted sharply. The conservative approach was to observe the lesion through time, while an aggressive strategy offered by one neurosurgeon was to remove it surgically. As my seizure episodes worsened and involved more of my body, I painfully weighed these options and decided that the aggressive approach was best. In November 1993 that neurosurgeon, Dr. Keith Black, performed my crainiotomy. Using computer-assisted surgical techniques, he was able to resect the quarter-sized tumor that had invaded my motor cortex. A follow-up MRI showed no visible tumor remaining, and after recovering from surgery I discovered my seizures had stopped.
The surgery left me unable to move my right hand. I enrolled in occupational therapy. After some weeks of daily work I restored basic functionality to my hand, and today my arm works as well as ever. As the surgeon had predicted, my surgical deficits were only temporary.
However, the final pathology of the tumor was a shock. It was determined not to be low grade, but an anaplastic astrocytoma grade 3. This type of tumor is a malignancy that regrows after surgery and expands deeper into the brain. I was to immediately begin nine months of cancer treatment, starting with chemotherapy to be followed by radiation. The benefit of the treatment plan, one of my doctors told me, was to "keep you good for a couple of years."
I began the chemotherapy, a three-drug protocol called PCV, and was scheduled to complete four to six six-week cycles. However, I was only halfway into the second cycle when I became extremely ill. I was allergic to the Procarbazine component, and was in bed for almost a week with high fever and a head-to-toe "sunburn." Reluctantly, the PCV was stopped altogether. I was switched to a single chemo drug called BCNU. I had two cycles of BCNU without significant incident and went on to radiation.
Radiation treatments consisted of 33 fractionated sessions of a total of 6000 rads. This is the lifetime limit and is a protocol used for many brain tumors. Radiation ended in July 1994, although I suffered fatigue for several months afterward. Hair loss was a side effect as well.
Along with medical treatments, I also explored complementary therapies and adopted ones that I felt appropriate. Early on I learned about relaxation and visualization; I have used a technique for brain tumors on a daily basis since. I have participated in support groups with other brain tumor survivors where we share common issues and challenges. I examined my diet, dietary supplements, and exercise patterns and found moderate changes I could make that encourage a healthier lifestyle. I do not believe these complementary approaches will necessarily cure illness, but I know they can improve the quality of life.
I have been very fortunate to have a full recovery from this brain tumor. Since 1994 I have had no medical treatments. I have been seizure-free since surgery and no longer require anti-seizure medication. I have had regular MRIs to monitor for tumor recurrence, and they have all been completely clear. Today I live a daily life as a husband, father, homeowner, driver, jogger and full-time worker without restrictions. I have come a long way past "a couple of good years."
Update 1/17/2007
As of this year I have had 33 clean scans and no lingering symptoms.!
