Thursday, August 21, 2008

Brain MRI Result

I now have five tumors in my brain, up from three back in February. The largest measures 2.12 cm. Four of the tumors are on the left side of the brain, and the remaining one is on the right. That explains why I've lost some feeling and co-ordination in my right hand.

I met with my medical oncologist (chemo doc) and radiation oncologist and the two agree that I need to have whole-brain radiation. Gamma knife, X-knife, and Novalis radiosurgery are other options, but they're targeted at the tumors only and will not get at any stray cancer cells or tumors that are too small to show up on the scan. Since my cancer is pretty widespread throughout the rest of my body, we can assume that getting rid of the tumors one-by-one isn't going to help much since they'll just keep growing back.

So, I had my radiation mask custom-made for me today and I'll start a ten-day course of radiation to the brain on Friday. I'll lose my hair again and I'll get chemo-fatigue. I might have some short-term memory loss as well, the doctor said. Maybe I'll forget I have cancer!

4 comments:

Francesca Giessmann said...

oh Shin:
thanks for posting and caring to update us.
I am here for afar sending you lots of love and if I was any closer .. I would come play with u and kids..
I bet Josie and Toby would get along with Leonardo .
with love
francesca
PS: Oh how much I hate cancer...

Leighbee said...

On a personal note.....

Please edit as you feel is right BUT I think it is an important post ....

My heart goes out to all those who like me religiously read this BLOG....not a day goes past where by several indepth go through my mind about Shin and her family....these thoughts are sometimes happy memories of spokem times with Shin, Tony or the children but sadly now, more often sad and painful thoughts.....

I remember two things from my past....my Gran dying....She was old....BUT my cousin was "too busy" to visit her in hospital....onme day, it was "too late" to do so.....

My own daughet died suddenly....I was "too busy" cooking tea to take her to bed myself that night.....

NOW, I find myself once again, sometimes "too busy".....

I hope I have finally woken up to the fact that you can NEVER be "too bust" for friends and family and hope that perhaps if you read this, you too will....

I think what I am trying to say is....

Its "easy" to read Shins blog....

Its "easy" to text.....

I want to be more involved because I actually DO love Shin and her family.....I love THEIR love....their determination....their entire existence.....

I often fear that by ringing or texting or emailing too often I will be an added burden BUT I reckon they are stronger than ANY of us give them credit for and will tell us is we are!?!

Tonight has been a sad night for me.....irrelevant in some ways but not in others....

One of our dearest friends text to "say goodbye" he's lived here 30 years (English) and simply "wants to go back home"...even left his wife behind....son, daughter in law and grandaughter in Oz....he text from the airport......It broke my heart....

You see.....it's a selfish world.....whilst HE is happy to be "going home" I am distraught that I never got to do what was right....was always "too busy"....didn't "say goodbye"

DON'T DO THIS TO YOURSELF OF YOU REALLY LOVE.....

Trust me... just a few minutes of time makes us all more complete people.....

Anonymous said...

Dear Shin,

Don't know what to say... but will keep praying & praying & praying for you.

Love
Kim & Mandy

Anonymous said...

Hate is such a strong word. I try not to use it myself. Not because I think there is no place in the world for hate but because I don’t like to see it used frivolously and take away from the power of the word when used appropriately. If I hear it used in conversation I become distracted. It stands out to me and I do a little validation check in my mind to determine if the word was necessary. I almost always make the assessment it was not. Then I try to catch up with the conversation.

Generally, I don’t hate terrorists or bacteria, killers or fires, droughts or thieves. Everything is so complicated and interdependent and there is so much to consider. I can rarely summon the conviction necessary to hate.

I agree with Francesca. I hate cancer.

-Jamie