Brain Cancer

[jkmunchkin]

I just found out today that one of my friends has brain cancer. She is in her mid-20's.

I guess I'm just looking for someone to tell me that I'm wrong, and that she has more than a few years to live. She is one of the funniest, sweetest, most incredible people I have ever met. It's just not fair. I don't want the reality of it to be true.

Someone please tell me some miraculous story of someone they know who beat brain cancer.

[CarlaB]

I know one person who had a tumor removed in college and did fine.

I know another person that was given six months for an inoperable tumor, decided to enjoy what time he had, five years later, we moved, so I don't know how he's doing.

So, you get two stories!! I'll say a prayer for your friend.

[Canadian Karen]

The principal at my husband's school had brain cancer about three years ago. She had the surgery, was off for 1/2 year, and then back stronger than ever! She's still the principal there........ no signs of recurrence...

Prayer being said here too........

Hugs.

Karen

[Mtndog]

Yep- my sister's best friend had brain cancer and she's back working as a nurse!

I'm sorry to hear about your friend's diagnosis but you kno we're all here for you!

[Corkdarrr]

One of our family friends had brain cancer towards the end of highschool. He had several surgeries and essentially now has two 'trapdoors' in teh back of his head.

Either way, that was almost 10 years ago and last I heard he's livin' it up in Colorado or something fun like that. Ski instructor maybe?

[almostnrn]

My mom was diagnosed with cancer (lung) last fall. She had 5 affected areas on her brain as well. Now I am not a specialist and I can only speak to my moms case. The oncology team that she had told her that the cancer on her brain was the least of their worries as far as being a treatable condition. They worked on those spots first and were able to eliminate them completly. I"m so sorry to hear about your friend and I understand how scary that kind of diagnosis is. I will keep you and your friend in my prayers for the challanges you both have ahead of you. The treatments available now for all kinds of cancers are amazing but she will be going through alot emotionally and medically.

[tarnalberry]

I'm sorry to hear about your friend. I hope it's treatable!

[Michi8]

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. If anything, she's got age and strength behind her, so she may do really well.

My FIL was diagnosed with two kinds of brain cancer last May and, unfortunately, is not doing as well as we'd hoped...one cancer (oligodenderoglioma) was stage 4, and the other (gioblastoma) stage 1, but very agressive. We have not given up hope, though, he continues to go through chemo treatment...still has 5 months of treatment to go.

However, in my search for more information I found a a couple of inspirational stories online. One is of a man who has beat the odds and has survived more than 9 years post surgery:

Open Original Shared Link

The other is of a man who has survived about 8 years now:

Open Original Shared Link

There are also some really positive new treatments being discovered/tested now. I hope that your friend has great success with beating this tumor. Support of friends will help a lot.

Michelle

[lovegrov]

Lance Armstrong's didn't start as brain cancer but it did spread to his brain.

richard

[jkmunchkin]

Thanks guys!!! These stories really cheered me up and gave me hope for her. I've been so upset about it since I found out.

[jerseyangel]

Jillian,

I don't have any experience or stories about this, but I certainly wish the best for your friend.

[floridanative]

Jillian - I am so sorry to hear about your friend but I have a feeling with a friend like you - she'll be just fine. I truly believe that the power of the human spirit is stronger than science will ever understand or be able to explain. The way you describe your friend I think she's already way ahead of the game. We're all pulling for you both to get through this trying time.

[ianm]

I have a friend who discovered she had very advanced lymphoma when she was 21. There were no symptoms until it was spread throughout her body. After a year of agressive radiation and chemotherapy the cancer was gone. 15 years later she is doing just fine and the cancer has never returned which is unusual for lymphoma. It is possible to beat cancer.

[NicoleAJ]

When I was in third grade, one of my friends, a fellow classmate, was diagnosed with brain cancer. She had to miss the second half of the school year and stay back a grade, but as far as I know, she's still doing well, and we're in our late twenties now.

I wish all the best for your friend's recovery.