As I write these entries, I won’t be generalizing. The problems I mention are really very specific to my father’s situation. As far as I know, brain cancer can affect any region of the brain. Because our brain has compartmentalized tasks and brain cancer, at least initially, affects a tiny area, the impact on the person will be different from patient to patient.
In my father’s case, the cancer affects his rear left quarter. It touches on areas of the brain that manage balance, sight, and hearing. However, the cancer also creates inflammation, which affects a wider area. This also causes short term memory loss, emotional instability, and lack of concentration.
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- A recent scan depicting multiple gliomas
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- Front MRI image of multiple tumors
Tags:
Brain,
brain cancer,
Brain tumor,
Cancer,
Health/Medical/Pharmaceuticals,
inflammation,
Medicine,
Memory,
Neuroanatomy,
Oncology,
short term memory loss Category:
Medical
Nearly five months out from the original indication that something was wrong, my father feels cold all the time, his sense of proportion is lost, his sight and hearing wanes, the short term memory fails, and sometimes basic or routine functions seem unfamiliar to him.
It’s not fair.
It might have made more sense to have started this blog when the problems first appeared but the chaos that ensues after the initial diagnosis is not trivial and thoughts of doing something for yourself disappear for many months. At least, this is how I experienced it. I see very little information of a personal nature on what and how people deal with brain cancer, so I wanted to put something up to help people who may be going through something similar.
I have learned a lot, not just about medical matters but the legal and financial concerns that come with the burdens of the American medical “system.” I am certain the hurdles faced are similar with anyone that faces a life-threatening disease; the difference that I see is that brain cancer degenerates a person rapidly and therefore all the activities that come with planning for death occur at a heightened pace.
I can’t imagine this site will be uplifting; I certainly feel no joy right now. But I will do my best to explain all the things that we go through and have gone through, so others who might face the same problem will know what to expect and make decisions and find resources with somewhat less stress. You can always contact me if you need someone to stumble through the process with you.
