Brain cancer - Jan 2

Its 7am and the nurses have finished prepping me... Now its just the bloody waiting again as emergency surgery cannot be scheduled with confidence. To kill time, I'm going to tell you about stuff I'm researching. Caveat: I am not a doctor so I'm sure there are errors or gaps in my knowledge but its close enough, and its still interesting.

Brain cancer damage and recovery

As you know, theres not much spare space under the skull. Theres brain, small organs like eyes and hypothalamus, the top of the spine, and CSF filling anything left. When cancer (no matter what type) gets growing up there, as it gets bigger, theres nowhere for anything to go (including the tumor) - things get squished and pressure slowly builds under the skull. The pressure starts affecting the brains ability to perform, and the symptoms you detect will be dependent on where the tumor takes root. Mine is near speech control and motor functions (as noted in the blog prologue). My speech is most noticeable of all the symptoms and continues to get worse. I don't take calls from anyone but family anymore because its just too confusing - my thoughts are still clear (hopefully this blog is proof of that) but the words struggle to get out.

Over time, if the tumor is not quickly treated, the cancer will start killing adjoining brain cells. Thats not so good, and thats why, even though I'm still feeling fine and am in no pain, this is treated so seriously. How wonderful is it that our health system takes such care?

If the damage to the brain is pressure-related, once the tumor is removed, the cells should recover on their own within days or weeks. If cells are killed, there can be permanent damage - although there appears to be plenty of evidence that over the subsequent 2 - 3 years, and depending on conditions, the brain can regrow and some function returns.

The surgeons seem to think my symptoms will be temporary rather than permanent (but there's obviously no guarantees). There's also the issue of damage caused by the excision procedure itself - which seems to carry the greater danger.

I'm going in now - wish me luck.

Brain cancer - Happy new year indeed

The view from the hospital for the city fireworks was pretty great. The display is so big, you never get to appreciate the full thing until you see it from a balcony on the 8th floor of POWH. A bourbon and a cigar would have really completed the scene.

Various medical staff kept visiting in the morning to prep me for surgery. Lots of needles sucking stuff out of me or pushing stuff into me. I'm not good with needles so that was pretty rough. Breakfast was innocently but tantalizingly left by my bed... And even though it barely rates as food, it counts in the 'nil by mouth' regimen. Soon enough I was attached to a drip, arms covered in bruises, awaiting my fate.

Time dragged on. I haven't mentioned Jacqui much but of course she's here most of the time. We have walks through the halls, discussing the pros and cons of the treatment, and keeping me updated on the kids massive social life. (We are so grateful to the families that are minding our girls for so many hours - the girls are having such a great time, I'm not sure they know I'm sick!) I was getting sleepy just before lunchtime so Jac went for a walk. The next thing i knew, a nurse woke me at 2pm to tell me surgery was cancelled.

The nurses kindly (or is that sadistically) left me a couple of egg sandwiches. Jacqui took a more sympathetic approach and went out for coffee, chips, and sushi. I spent the next 2hrs filling up as I realised I'll be starved again from midnight tonight.

The prospect of doing the whole thing again tomorrow doesn't appeal but I am really grateful I didn't have to wait until 8pm to find out the day was a waste. Jacqui, where's the bourbon?