9/27 will be 25 years as a brain cancer survivor but cancer free
In 1999 I was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 19. It was on my right temporal lobe. I had a craniotomy to remove the tumor.
At my 3 month scan I walked into the surgeon's office. She started with "this is the hardest things we as doctors have to do." Continuing with "you have a new tumor, and it is aggressive and growing fast. Then the words I'll never forget, "I'm sorry Amber, there's just no hope." She had consulted with the head of neurosurgery, neurologists, and neurooncologists and they all had the same answer, there's no hope, there's no medical treatment for this tumor.
I went home and back to college though they all told me to wait, I wanted to be a teacher so badly I pushed through. During this time we watched with MRIs every 3 months. It began shrinking until on 9/27/2000, exactly one year from the diagnosis of the first tumor, I walked into my neurosurgeon's office, she said "smile it's good news"! It was way better than I imagined. The No Hope Tumor was gone!!! No medical treatment on that tumor. I believe it was answered prayers!!!
I just wanted to shed some light to those who need some hope. When they told me NO HOPE, I hung onto the word HOPE. It became very important to me. 9/27/1999 brain tumor journey began. Exactly one year later 9/27/2000 we learned my No Hope Tumor was gone!!!
It took me 24 years to write a book, but "Go Gray in May motivated me and I published it on Amazon May 1, 2023. It's the full version of my journey. It's not perfect but a huge accomplishment.
I don't know if I can share a link here but my e-book is going to be FREE to download starting tomorrow through Friday 8/9/24. If you prefer to hold a book it's also on Amazon for $9.27 but cannot be reduced due to printing costs. Search "Amber Gibson Choose Hope book" and it should come up. If I'm allowed to put a link in I will do that too. I'm new hear and not sure of the rules.
Anyway, for those still in their brain tumor journey, I understand the emotions I went through. I'm here if anyone wants to chat, know that I'm here for you! Know that you're not alone, though it feels like it at times.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Brain Tumor Support Group.
That’s a great story! Good for you!
I will order your book to follow your journey.
I had a craniotomy last year February 2023 for a 4.5 meninginoma.
Pathology came back - malignant - rare solitary fibrous tumor of CNS grade 3.
Surgeon got all but a very small piece that was too close to sagittal sinus.
Underwent 6 weeks of daily radiation,
3 month PET and MRI were good, no metastasize.
Now go every 6 months for MRI and PET - so far so good.
The worry never goes away, I pray a lot and have a lot of family and friend support.
Quite a roller coaster, sure makes you put life in perspective.
Glad to hear your good results, gives me hope.