Just to explain to anyone who has not heard.....
I have started this blog to keep my family and friends updated on the latest news from me.
The background is that after a few weeks of being slightly confused, a few headaches and finding I was misreading words, I visited my Doctor on 13 Feb 2012 with what I thought were trivial but varied symptoms. He suggested some blood tests on Wed 15 Feb and see what that would find. However, before I could attend, after dinner on Tue 14 Feb I collapsed at home (as I got up to do the washing up!). Jane and a neighbour managed to look after me until an ambulance arrived and I was taken to Worc Royal Hospital. I was unaware of all this, and woke up on the Wednesday wondering where I was.
The next couple of days I had a CT scan and an MRI scan and told brain tumour was detected. Considering I hadn't realised I had anything seriously wrong with me, this was, to say the least, a shock!
To cut the story short, I was referred to Coventry and Warwick Hospital which has one of the top neurological centres in the country. I had to wait for a bed and transferred there on 26 Feb. There I had more scans and a biopsy was performed to help diagnose the tumour. This was to prove inconclusive, but fortunately the surgeon would not repeat the procedure (this was a risky procedure to do once). Further scans and tests took place and I remained at Coventry until Thursday 15 March, when I was allowed home. There has been much debate about whether it is a lymphoma or not, despite a number of scans. They have referred my case to Worcester where haematology will decide if my condition can be treated with chemotherapy. If not, I don't know what will happen as they are stopping the medication which has, so far, reduced the lesions. Radiotherapy will not be used as first line treatment as there is evidence that people who have received this treatment on the brain have suffered long terms problems with memory (which is one of my symptoms) and cognitive functions.
It was great to be home and so am enjoying a few days while I await contact from Worcester Royal where I will find out what treatment will be appropriate.
The background is that after a few weeks of being slightly confused, a few headaches and finding I was misreading words, I visited my Doctor on 13 Feb 2012 with what I thought were trivial but varied symptoms. He suggested some blood tests on Wed 15 Feb and see what that would find. However, before I could attend, after dinner on Tue 14 Feb I collapsed at home (as I got up to do the washing up!). Jane and a neighbour managed to look after me until an ambulance arrived and I was taken to Worc Royal Hospital. I was unaware of all this, and woke up on the Wednesday wondering where I was.
The next couple of days I had a CT scan and an MRI scan and told brain tumour was detected. Considering I hadn't realised I had anything seriously wrong with me, this was, to say the least, a shock!
To cut the story short, I was referred to Coventry and Warwick Hospital which has one of the top neurological centres in the country. I had to wait for a bed and transferred there on 26 Feb. There I had more scans and a biopsy was performed to help diagnose the tumour. This was to prove inconclusive, but fortunately the surgeon would not repeat the procedure (this was a risky procedure to do once). Further scans and tests took place and I remained at Coventry until Thursday 15 March, when I was allowed home. There has been much debate about whether it is a lymphoma or not, despite a number of scans. They have referred my case to Worcester where haematology will decide if my condition can be treated with chemotherapy. If not, I don't know what will happen as they are stopping the medication which has, so far, reduced the lesions. Radiotherapy will not be used as first line treatment as there is evidence that people who have received this treatment on the brain have suffered long terms problems with memory (which is one of my symptoms) and cognitive functions.
It was great to be home and so am enjoying a few days while I await contact from Worcester Royal where I will find out what treatment will be appropriate.