Glioblastoma with gross total resection.

Posted by courageandgrace @courageandgrace, Nov 13 9:51pm

My husband, 54 years old. He had approx. 12 minute seizure on Sept. 10. They did a CT scan and said that they felt he had a meningioma and it was 100% treatable. He should see his doctor the next day and they should do an MRI just to be sure. The MRI was completed and they told us that they felt he had a high grade glioma. Before that day, there was no indication of anything wrong with him. He had a 2 x 2 x 2 gross total resection on Oct. 3 to his right temporal lobe and they were able to take 1 inch margins around that as well. His tumor had grown 30% in three weeks. It was confirmed that he has glioblastoma. They were able to take 1 inch margins around it. To look at him, you would never know he had surgery. Physically, he is fine. Emotionally though, I notice he is having trouble regulating his emotions with me, especially when he is nervous or anxious about something. Any suggestions or help would be great. Also, any in general things that have helped you as the care provider deal with this emotionally. It’s a lot to be this young and think about all the possibilities. Plus my husband owns his own business and I have that all on my mind as well.

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courageandgrace | @courageandgrace | Nov 13 9:54pm

Also, I forgot to mention that he started chemo and radiation November 6th. He has glioblastoma, IDH wild type and he has a better genetic marker, MGMT methylated type.

ruthannray | @ruthannray | Nov 14 7:24am

He’s young and strong so has better odds of good quality time remaining. Few people live a long time with his diagnosis, but maybe he will be the exception. Nevertheless, you must do two critical things now.

First, be his rock. Find another safe outlet for your fears - go outward. Manage his treatments if/when he cannot.

Second, get prepared for the business and financial responsibilities that are likely to come your way. Hopefully you are already involved in both. If not, have the difficult but necessary conversation with your beloved husband about the need to be prepared if he has a reaction to the treatments that require him to step aside for a while. No need to focus beyond the interim measures needed. He will want a viable business to return to. What needs to happen for that to be the case?

He has received devastating news, so your steadiness is critical for him. Hug him wordlessly often if he takes comfort in touch. Not in your need, but to give him comfort.

Have Hope, for all things are possible.

tarheelchuck | @tarheelchuck | Nov 14 2:40pm

Zolof... not sure of the spelling… But it has helped me a lot at regulating my emotions. There are no real side effects except that I don't tear up and get over the top sad during normal conversations about my diagnosis, which is also glioblastoma

Randy Shields | @randallshields56 | Nov 15 3:04pm

welcome to the group, there are a lot of great people here and the support is crazy good. as to the over the top thinking the Zoloft works for some , i am not a doctor just a patient , long story short i had a TBI traumatic brain injury, a tumor in the brain and just under the glioblastoma category.
side effects differ from patient to patient, my operation was because mine forced me to get emergency treatment i.e. surgery and mine was shall we say a bit more extensive in that i had more treatments ahead of me. the radiation went spot on and chemo was well a back up plan.
eventually things settle down and you can get into support groups that are pretty awesome. the actual reason i said anything is you need three things, something to live and fight for, mine is my daughters, second if you believe in god, get some prayer groups going they help immensely and last stay in good shape to beat the odds and it also helps with depression setting goals. i hope ypu found something I've said helpful. have a awesome day.