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GBM after two years of treatment survival of 69 year old man?
My husband 69 years was diagnosed with a glioblastoma grade 4. He had surgery, radiation and chemo. It has been two years and the GBM shows to be growing back. How much time does he have to live. Right now he is doing pretty good. He still drives. He says he doesn't hurt. He does has memory loss and gets very tired, he also is very hyper and compulsive. I am getting worried.
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Doug Martel here with an update; still here and driving and playing golf. My oncologist said, “I wish all my patients had your scans.” Please consider adding fluoxetine to your daily regimen. The risk v potential reward is very much in your favor. I’m walking my daughter down the aisle in a few weeks. So grateful! Please seek out Dr. Mischel for dosage recommendations.
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4 Reactions@kujhawk79 I’m sorry he has changed so much-I’m beginning to deal with some of this. It’s nerve wracking to never know who he will he be moment to moment. People will say be strong-it means you are always on guard. You lose yourself in the tragedy of what once was with every gesture, every emotion.
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1 ReactionI agree with the comment above…just be sure you love yourself too. Doing that is not selfish. It means you are always the person he married now the center of his ability to live as well as he can. It’s a lot to ask of anyone. I was my mom’s anchor for a long time-I never felt more genuine than I did all those years being her helper and advocate. I knew absolutely who I was-I would do it again in a heartbeat. We shared so much, every little blessed detail of her day. I miss her dearly-
@kujhawk79, being told to start thinking about hospice must be hard to hear. Your husband's personality changes are hard to handle on your own. I suggest starting by asking for a referral to palliative care. A palliative care team can help manage your husband's symptoms and side effects while he is on chemo and treatment. In addition, many cancer centers also have social workers and/or chaplains, occupational therapists, pain management specialists and other skill sets as members of the palliative care team. A palliative social work could be a useful support for YOU as you help manage your husband's care and care for yourself. They can also help find resources that you may need now and in the future, like hospice care.
Do you already have a palliative care physician as part of your husband's care team? How are YOU doing today?