A Quick Introduction

Bear with me here. A note to remember is I have alexia due to my cancer. Brain tumor causes me to be able to type, and spell, but reading is gone. Very confusing. So if I make a mistake bear with me.

Quick story-
After waking up at 2am in September 2012, I spent 3 days in agony. I thought I was having a migraine. No prior history, but my brain was screaming. Later we find out I had a brain tumor that had burst sending blood into my brain and destroying eyesight reading and much more. They then discover a golf ball sized tumor of melanoma. They took it out in October 2012. I am currently still recovering.

I somehow managed to not loose complete eyesight in one eye (which is still shocking doctors). However I cannot read due to the brain damage, nor see very well due to the damage as well. Im also now at long term risk of seizures. They laugh at the thought of me driving again.

After surgery they then put me thru 18 rounds  of radiation directly to my brain. I just finished the last dose yesterday! Now Im dealing with extreme weakness, and hair falling out. Yay for bald spots! Oh and brain swelling, apparently that happens with a 'constant punch to the head'.  So now we are on steroids to help the swelling go down. These are a whole new ball game. Face swelling is a result, ulcers, and no sleep. They are hoping in the next few weeks to wean me off.

Next steps you ask?

Well January 2013 is going to bring us into IV treaments! I may have forgotten to mention now they have to treat the cancer in my right lung. (yep its there TOO!!!) We are going to start a newly developed drug for melanoma called yervoy. It isnt as bad a chemo or IL2. Its more of an immune booster that tries to get your own body to fight the cancer. We start that treatment to see if it works. As with anything with melanoma it has a low sucess rate. But since the lung isnt too big it gives us time to play with less invasive options. Side effects are relatively low. Mainly skin reactions etc. During all this they will monitor me closely. Then on to the next treatment if it doesnt work.

They did discover that my melanoma was not caused my sun. Just a fluke. They tested me for the b-raf gene and it didnt pop. So I didnt qualify for the new clinical trial. We kinda already new. Just scary with all the people that tan and sun expose that it can be caused by anything. Please be careful.

So here we are. A quick update as to where we are. I will keep everyone posted on things.

As for me Im going to enjoy my holiday, and try to get some rest. Pesky steroids keep me up.