← Return to Cancer Recurrence: Everything removed, but can it come back?

Discussion
Comment receiving replies
@quirkygirl35

I had a brain tumor when I was ten and now thirty years later discover that somewhere along the way I caught a virus. Symptoms where so random (cold extremities, waking up in the middle of the night not being able to breathe for 30+ seconds, anxieties +depression) I thought they were after effects of chemo or radiation. Then in my thirties I stared getting bad digestive issues, saw a gastroenterologist and my primary Dr. couldn't find anything either. So I had to do the research myself and tell my dr to test my blood antibodies here at the Mayo. Now at almost 40 I have Chronic Epstein Barr.
So to answer your question yes recurrance is always possible. And do your own research people, listen to your own individual bodies. I was unfortunately a minor then so they told my parents a lot more than they did to me, but I really regret not reading up on anything when I was of age.

Jump to this post


Replies to "I had a brain tumor when I was ten and now thirty years later discover that..."

Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, @quirkygirl35. Thank you for sharing your story with us. I agree that listening to our own individual bodies is the best way to be your own advocate for your healthcare. It feels as though the system is making it harder and harder to campaign for your own well being, but I do believe that we know ourselves better than anyone else does. There is only so much that testing can detect. Without sharing the symptoms and issues your are experiencing, your physician with never have all the pieces to the puzzle.

May I ask what type of brain tumor you had?

Hi Quirkygirl (love the name), I'd like to add my welcome. You make such a good point about not having the information about childhood cancer once you became an adult. Do you have access to your medical records from that time? Are your parents able to talk about it with you?