Multiple operations

• By LERATO
• Reply 3477807
• October 22, 2012 at 2:10 am
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Hi Tommyuk,

Oh! I thought that brain tumors happens once, this is quite scary for you to have four now, I am sorry to hear that this is happening to you. Has the doctors ever told you why they are recurring? Stay strong, that is the only way to go, some days things don't happen the way you want them to be.

• By Tommyuk
• Reply 3477955
• October 22, 2012 at 6:47 am
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Hi There

Thank you so much for getting in touch.

Not sure why they reoccur, I used to play a lot of rugby and had my skull fractured a number of times, so it could be that a lot of small pieces of skull and dirt from the rugby pitch may have got inside.

I think that even if a tiny, tiny part of the tumor is left inside it can then re-grow.

Hopefully this is to be the last brain operation that i've got to go through.

• By 4healing
• Reply 3478439
• October 22, 2012 at 10:28 am
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So sorry that you have to go thru another surgery. I pray that it will go well for you and that this will be the last one you ever need. Amen! My husband has had two surgeries in 4.5 years for an extremely rare tumor. We, too are hopeful that the most recent surgery will be the last he ever needs.

I can strongly recommend that you do try to get physically fit before the surgery. For my husband's first surgery he was NOT at all fit or healthy--and his recovery was slow and difficult. But for this last surgery, he had lost 30+ pounds, worked out and radically changed his diet ( he follows a mostly Paleo diet ) and used vitamin supplements. His recovery so far has been amazing and completely different from the previous time! Praise God!

Wishing you a complete and speedy recovery!

• By Ginnip
• Reply 3478620
• October 22, 2012 at 11:33 am
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Hi Tommyuk,
I don't know if you have followed Cheryl Boyles story but I have sent you a link to her site just in case you haven't. She was diagnosed with a GBM in 1990 at the age of 33 and has had four surgeries to date. Her site has lots of information and she will respond to questions. She is a wonderful resource and inspiration.
My husband has had two surgeries and is doing very well.
Wendy (ginnip)

• By Ginnip
• Reply 3478624 · In reply to 3478620 by Ginnip
• October 22, 2012 at 11:34 am
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oops here is the link!!
http://cherylbroyles-gbm.com/

• By agbecky
• Reply 3478887
• October 22, 2012 at 12:48 pm
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Hi tommyuk,
What were the diagnoses of your past tumors? Did you undergo radiation or chemo? My husband is fighting glioblastoma grade 4, which is a tumor that always comes back eventually (if not sooner). He is 10 months past diagnosis and craniotomy, and is doing well now. He is starting his 7th monthly round of chemo today. Have the doctors said anything about your past skull injuries having any possible relation to your tumors.
Best wishes,
Becky

• By Tommyuk
• Reply 3479622 · In reply to 3478439 by 4healing
• October 22, 2012 at 5:18 pm
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Thank. you so much, I am now training every day to get the heart rates right for surgery, thank you for your kind wishes.

• By Tommyuk
• Reply 3479704 · In reply to 3478887 by agbecky
• October 22, 2012 at 5:48 pm
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Hi there, my first tumor was removed in 2006 and was a baseball sized mengienoma, It then returned around 14 months later, another operation removed the tumor along with some of the bones that it was attatched to. The third tumor was at the pituitary gland and involved my face removal surgery. This operation was followed by radiotherapy and two weeks of stereotactic radiotherapy. This tumor has not recurred. I had my last surgery in August of 2011 which was to remove another mengienoma.
Just had follow up meeting on Friday 19th of October and have now been told that I require another operation for another tumor that has grown behind my right eye.

Fitness is the key to getting through these operations, though this time my head is a bit low.

I'm sure my motivation will return in a couple of days.

• By Tommyuk
• Reply 3479707 · In reply to 3478620 by Ginnip
• October 22, 2012 at 5:49 pm
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Thank you, will have a look at her site. regards

• By 4healing
• Reply 3479801 · In reply to 3479704 by Tommyuk
• October 22, 2012 at 6:31 pm
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God bless you, Tommyuk!

• By Tommyuk
• Reply 3486001 · In reply to 3485751 by ABTA_Mary
• October 24, 2012 at 5:33 pm
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Mary

Thank you for this information. Now feeling confident about increase in fitness, and am also more confident in the terms of the fifth operation. Thank you very much.

• By loneranger444
• Reply 3503264
• October 30, 2012 at 11:09 pm
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Tommy,
I too am on my forth tumor. After my first on that was found on accident they said that it would be 20 years before it came back. Well almost every five years it has come back. I too was at peak of fitness when I had my first one and it helped me recover lot faster than most. Good luck and don't give up the fight.

• By Tommyuk
• Reply 3503748 · In reply to 3503264 by loneranger444
• October 31, 2012 at 8:05 am
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Thank You for that message,

At least the people who get a good few tumors seem to be decent and healthy folks.
Great to know i'm not alone in going through these things a few times.
You Take Care and thanks for getting my spirit up a good bit.

Tommy

• By MaryMagallanes
• Reply 3505759
• November 1, 2012 at 7:32 am
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My husband had 4 total that's it dr said no more surgeries. But every case is different. I wish you the best of luck!

• By Tommyuk
• Reply 3506465
• November 1, 2012 at 11:59 am
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Hi Mary

Thanks for getting in touch, I was told after my last surgery that that would be the final operation possible, but they are now going for a further operation it with little real worries.

I've spoken to a lady who has been through surgery 9 times and she is still going strong.

Hope all goes well for your husband.

Tommy

• By emmav
• Reply 3506614
• November 1, 2012 at 12:54 pm
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Hi 4healing.

What kind of diet is Paleo diet?

Tnank you.

• By 4healing
• Reply 3507358 · In reply to 3506614 by emmav
• November 1, 2012 at 5:47 pm
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It is a "caveman diet" meaning if you can hunt it or gather it, you can eat it. So, whole, fresh, organic when you can find/afford it foods like meat-all varieties, veggies, fruit in moderation, nuts and seeds are all acceptable--because you can eat them without processing them. All grains are off limits because they must be processed before you can eat it. Sugar, esp. refined cane sugar, and corn syrup is off limits as well. Natural sugars are limited as well (BY THE WAY, SUGAR IS AN INFLAMMATORY AND IS BELIEVED TO BE CANCER'S FOOD!) . All processed food-anything in a can or box- is off limits. And dairy is used by some, but only goat milk/cheese or raw milk/cheese from a cow. It sounds hard to do and restrictive, but I promise you that if you can get thru the first 10 days you've got it made. On that 10th day, its like a switch is flipped in your body. On that day, cravings for sugar and salt and junk and crazy hunger pains just disappear. For real! You can google it and there should be several books at your library if you are interested. My favorite place for Paleo recipes is on PaleOMG.com. She makes it easy and delicious.

Of course, the biggest benefit is in how you feel on the Paleo diet. It is remarkable. My hubby was not on board until he got sick, even though I'd been doing it for a while. Now, he loves it and says he'd do it even if he wasn't sick. Secret is to do Paleo the majority of the time--say at least 80% of the time, adapting your favorite foods to be as Paleo as possible, but allow yourself to "treat" yourself to something un-Paleo once in a while-like icecream or dinner out. You will find, though, that once your body gets used to whole Paleo foods it does not like it when you eat anything un-Paleo. This diet is a great one for helping all kinds of gut issues, by the way.

Let me know if you try it and what you think of it!

• By Janacoco
• Reply 3508554
• November 2, 2012 at 7:29 am
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Hi All,
I absolutely support what 4healing says about the Paleo diet. When my son was diagnosed back in 2011 with a massive malignant tumor, in addition to conventional medical treatment and with the concurrence of his doctors, he went on a Paleo diet right away, plus started selected supplements. This past Tuesday he had yet another totally clear MRI and is in the peak of health. We found that him maintaining a 100% Paleo did not work after several months. It's a pretty intense diet, but then it literally starves the cancer. He has since backed off to an 80% Paleo just like 4healing says. If anyone out there is interested in getting (no cost/no strings attached) an excel spreadsheet containing the details of my son's program, please e-mail me at jana.piscioneri@verizon.net. That program does not contain recipes, but it has all the principles of what to do/ what to avoid mapped out.

All the best

• By 4healing
• Reply 3509011 · In reply to 3508554 by Janacoco
• November 2, 2012 at 10:27 am
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Janacoco,

That is wonderful news about your son! Praise the Lord! I pray that those clear MRI's just keep coming for him, AMEN. I'm going to email you for the details of his program. It would be nice to have on hand!

Take care,
4healing