Have you Ever Had a Brain Tumor???

LeanerBeef
LeanerBeef Posts: 1,432 Member
edited October 18 in Chit-Chat
No? Yes? I did. And I’m here to say that it’s not a death sentence. I will admit that it’s a scary thing. Especially when you’re primary care doctor that has to break the news looks like he is going to cry when telling you.

I had a meningioma removed about 6 years ago. It was a pretty scary time. All my doctors told me that I would most likely be fine. But most likely does not mean definitely. In between my diagnosis and my craniotomy we found out that my wife was pregnant. Can you say stress? Word….

The good news, they did my surgery, removed the tumor and because I’m the baddest person on the planet, they sent me home the next day…Either that or my insurance was up and they needed the bed. Why I am writing this? Because it’s therapeutic for me. and also because hopefully it will give someone else in a similar situation some hope. A brain tumor is not a death sentence. It’s not cool and definitely a little scary but doctors today can do amazing things. Sheryl Crow, are you listening?? Yeah, she has the same type of tumor.

My name is Beef and I'm a bad motherf*kr!
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Replies

  • Jersey_Devil
    Jersey_Devil Posts: 4,142 Member
    Great you beat it beef! My mom had a brain tumor. it's a big issue with me.
  • CanadianChic
    CanadianChic Posts: 141
    Glad to see you beat it! You have a lot to live for, and PS... you are one sexy bada$$ mother F'r!!!! :heart: :flowerforyou:
  • Bridge_CG
    Bridge_CG Posts: 429 Member
    I had a tumor behind my left eye when I was a wee little one. It pressed upon my brain and made my eye look a little buggy. I beat it, I beat my cancer... 20+ years... I'm still here!

    Congrats to you on beating it, being a dad, husband and living your life! You're amazing and an inspiration!
  • tweakz20
    tweakz20 Posts: 152 Member
    Congrats to you who beat brain cancer! I lost 3 of my grandparents to it. Watching them die slowly. One of the worst ways to go..
  • Tigger228
    Tigger228 Posts: 23 Member
    Congratulations on your weight loss and recovery from the tumor! My Mom was diagnosed with the same type on New Years Eve going into 1999. Luckily it wasn't cancerous but it was also the size of a grapefruit. Her memory, temperment and balance is a little off but I wouldn't trade the world for any second that I'm able to spend with her.

    My family and I also attend the Brain Tumor Walk/3K run every May in Washington DC if you're interested. It's an extremely emotional experience especially for my family and all of the proceeds go towards an amazing cause.

    Keep up the great work and positive attitude!!!


    PS - I love your screenname even though I'm vegetarian :-p
  • lmelangley
    lmelangley Posts: 1,039 Member
    Your timing is wonderful. A friend was diagnosed with a brain mass just today. Still more tests to run, so we don't know the prognosis or treatment at this point. Your story helps. I'm going to share with his wife.

    Thank you.
  • alpepp
    alpepp Posts: 55 Member
    My dad just had an acoustic neuroma removed this week! Still in the hospital but has an excellent prognosis. So proud of him and my mom has been a champ.
  • snw_
    snw_ Posts: 237 Member
    Nope. but my brother does. a very agressive and as the oncologist put it just a few hours ago, an "extremely deadly" type of cancer.

    im glad you beat it.
  • ❤B☩❤
    ❤B☩❤ Posts: 634
    You are truly blessed and I am willing to bet that you savor every minute of every day! Good for you, sir! Congratulations on your life!
  • vade43113
    vade43113 Posts: 836 Member
    Cool you beat it, but the problem is their are multiple forms of brain tumors... My mom had a stage four (the highest), that was named Glioblastoma Multiforme, she didn't make it.:cry: Last year on June 11th, she took her last breath in this world. So, forgive me if I am not jumping...

    Sorry...
  • SPNLuver83
    SPNLuver83 Posts: 2,050 Member
    My mother had a brain tumor. It destroyed her brain before they found and removed it, and it ended up killing her a couple years ago. You are very blessed to be alive. I miss her... :(
  • That's awesome that you beat it, Beef!

    I've never had a brain tumor, but my mom had 21 when they finally realized she didn't, in fact, have asthma as the doctor here was telling her. She beat her brain tumors, but the non-small-cell lung cancer it started as ended up taking her life anyhow.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member


    My family and I also attend the Brain Tumor Walk/3K run every May in Washington DC if you're interested. It's an extremely emotional experience especially for my family and all of the proceeds go towards an amazing cause.


    My cousin who had a brain tumor removed about 2 years or so ago now does this walk every year now. Other than losing her hearing in one ear from one of the 2 surgeries she had she's doing great now.
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    I'm so glad you came out of it as healthy as you did. Sadly, it didn't end so well for my aunt in 2008. Her brain tumor was malignant by the time they caught it, and it was just too far gone.

    **** CANCER. It's an evil disease no matter what form.
  • blueeylb
    blueeylb Posts: 297 Member
    in 2003 shortly after my dad passed away from a dvt (blood clot) that passed i found out i had an olive sized tumor in in my brain, and had it removed on my winter break from school it turned out begine but had a bummer recovery having to be driven around by everyone thank you to my whole family that stood by me and my boyfriend of 3months when i found it now he's my husband and we have 2 beautiful children thank fully i found it before i was having any sideeffects because of it.
    congrats to all who have gone thru this and best wishes to those who are dealing with it now!!
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    Hugs to everyone who has lost someone dear to them....

    Best wishes to those who have overcome...

    They tell me I'm most like my aunt, but I didn't get to spend a great deal of time with her before the cancer spread to her brain and she died around age 36 or so. :( Hopefully we'll meet someday, Aunt Becky.
  • jentarver
    jentarver Posts: 192
    :) We love Beef!!!
  • sazzyp1973
    sazzyp1973 Posts: 517 Member
    A close friend of mine did, scary time but it was overcome, thanks to amazing surgeons and their own determination.
  • ABaggett2010
    ABaggett2010 Posts: 33 Member
    Wow I had no idea!!!! Even more of an inspiration :)
  • Thank you so much for sharing this. I needed to hear this. My sister had one type of cancer lobular,. something like that. She did chemo, radiation, had a mastectomy and now she has brain tumors. They haven't done surgery for the brain tumors but she did radiation to shrink them. Still waiting to hear if they are gone away. IDK. Definitely a scary thing to go through. It broke my heart to hear her tell me, she was afraid to fall asleep cause she might not wake up. Okay I'm going to stop before the tears start. I'm so glad you're around to tell us how you beat it!
  • LeanerBeef
    LeanerBeef Posts: 1,432 Member
    Thanks everyone, especially those of you that shared your own experience or that of a loved one. I know that I was very lucky and many, many people are not as fortunate with their diagnosis.

    Cancer sucks, tumors suck.......God bless to anyone that has gone through or is dealing with it now. My thoughts are with you and I wish you the best.
  • I had a brain tumor as my daughter (tigger228) mentioned already. You're right, it is a scary thing to go through but I had my family and the faith in God that kept me going. I was in the hospital 5 days before the surgery for test then another week after the surgery. I have to take seizure medicine for the rest of my life but still have seizures at times. My doctor thought he was going to have to perform 2 surgeries because the tumor was so big. He said it was the second largest tumor that he operated on. They all said at the hospital that I was a miracle but I say it was faith. Glad you made it through ok also.
  • MCproptart
    MCproptart Posts: 92 Member
    Raises hand. One year ago this week I had a 1.6x1.9 acoustic neuroma/vestibular schwannoma removed (left retrosigmoid craniotomy, for those who like the fancy words). Recovery was tough, but I am one of the lucky ones. I can still drive, work, laugh, knit, exercise--I lost my hearing on that side, but I had no facial paralysis. PM me if you want to know more, if you have questions, etc. Also, there are two wonderful groups on FB: Acoustic Neuroma Association and Acoustic Neuroma/Vestibular Schwannoma. I found it when I was still doing watch & wait and trying to decide between surgery and Gamma Knife/ Cyber Knife.

    There is life after brain surgery! :happy:
  • Mallory0418
    Mallory0418 Posts: 723 Member
    Cool you beat it, but the problem is their are multiple forms of brain tumors... My mom had a stage four (the highest), that was named Glioblastoma Multiforme, she didn't make it.:cry: Last year on June 11th, she took her last breath in this world. So, forgive me if I am not jumping...

    Sorry...

    Agreed. True, it's not always a death sentence...but sometimes it is. And it's a terrible thing to watch. Congrats to you for beating it! :smile: Seriously, you are blessed. But this isn't an easy topic for some...
  • I recently had my own scare, but the MRI showed a healthy brain. I am overjoyed at how many of you beat brain cancer. That's amazing! To the loved ones who didn't survive, I am so sorry for your losses.
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    My cousin had a brain tumor. It was benign, but unfortunately, her pituitary gland had to be removed, and she was only left with the stem. She has to take steroids to regulate body function, and as a result, she gained an immense amount of weight. She has had gastric bypass and can barely eat anything now, but was only able to lose half the weight she gained. She is still trying to lose. Yes, I told her about MFP, but she didn't take to this program. I pray for her all the time, but I also know that I am truly blessed that she has survived. Doctors did not give her more than 10 years to live. It's been 17 years since her surgery! :drinker:
  • spicy618
    spicy618 Posts: 2,114 Member
    HI,

    To those of you who had a tumor. What did it feel like?
  • I'm, glad u beat it. I have lost my grandmother, father, 2 uncles, an aunt, and cousin to lung cancer. and my friends daughter who turned 22 last thursday just lost the battle on sunday night. She beat it 7 years ago and about a month ago it came back with a vengence. It breaks my heart as my daughter is only 19 and they were friends.
  • forever28
    forever28 Posts: 374 Member
    ((((HUGS)))) Beef!! Love ya friend! :heart: :flowerforyou:
  • perfectingpatti
    perfectingpatti Posts: 1,037 Member
    Cool you beat it, but the problem is their are multiple forms of brain tumors... My mom had a stage four (the highest), that was named Glioblastoma Multiforme, she didn't make it.:cry: Last year on June 11th, she took her last breath in this world. So, forgive me if I am not jumping...

    My 31 year old sister had a glioblastoma mutiforme and was given 6 months to a year to live when she was diagnosed. That was 12 years ago! She suffered a stroke last summer and is in a nursing home now. She's got demetia and a multitude of other problems now because of the damage caused by radiation, and we don't expect her to live much longer. However, we are so grateful for the years we've had with her since the surgery.

    Praying for all affected by brain cancer.
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