Frank
Frank
During the spring of 1997, I suffered from morning sickness, sweating, and one episode of unconsciousness. I attributed the symptoms to occupational stress; a fire had started in the boiler room, and I had had to evacuate seventy people to another building at 2:00 a.m. Moreover, there were tensions due to budget cuts, making staff layoffs inevitable. I thought I would take a quiet vacation in the summer, not overdo it, and I would regain my balance.
On August 7th, while returning from Normandy, in the port of Dunkirk, I suddenly and without warning suffered an epileptic seizure. The focal seizure began in my right shoulder and neck and quickly generalized to a "grand mal" (a type of seizure). A few days later, I experienced a much more severe seizure and entered a "status epilepticus," where one seizure immediately leads to the next. A life-threatening situation.
On Friday, August 15th, I visited an oncologist at a large hospital in Antwerp. He decided to admit me to the neurology department. On Monday, an MRI scan of my brain was taken. This clearly showed a tumor, encapsulated on three sides by edema, and on the fourth side, a nascent invasion of healthy tissue was discernible. A long series of tests followed for any other cancerous lesions. None were found. It was therefore a primary tumor of the brain tissue.
A week later, on September 3rd, the neurosurgeon opened my skull and removed the tumor. I was lucky: the tumor was in an easily accessible location, the left upper parietal region. During the tumorectomy, they actively used my reactions, so I was no longer anesthetized, but I don't remember anything about that. The operation lasted seven hours. Upon waking, I had to move my arms and legs. The surgeon performed several tests. Everything was fine, although I had difficulty moving the right side of my body. Therefore, the operation had not caused any major or permanent damage.
Corinne, a moral counselor, pays me a very short visit and reassures me.
A few days later, the pathologist's report followed. It was a grade three astrocytoma, transitioning to grade four, also called a glioblastoma. In other words, the tumor was extremely malignant.
This was followed by a recovery period of several weeks. Afterward, the affected area was treated with radiation for thirty sessions spread over six weeks.
Considering that there's absolutely no guarantee that all cancer cells will be removed with a high-grade astrocytoma, I decided, in consultation with my surgeon, to participate in an experimental program. Because the blood-brain barrier significantly filters out foreign substances, I was given a very high dose of the anti-hormone tamoxifen. This was to prevent recurrence. Now, nine years later, I'm still taking the medication, and there has been no recurrence or new tumor formation. Without follow-up treatment, this is often the case with high-grade brain tumors.
I was fortunate enough to be treated by an exceptionally competent team of doctors and paramedics. I dare say that the care and support provided by the latter was just as important as the purely medical interventions, although these are, of course, a prerequisite for surviving the disease in good conditions. I also found the moral and psychosocial support invaluable. The fact that those around me didn't abandon me during this difficult period was also essential.
The mild paralysis in the right side of my body has completely disappeared after physical therapy. I remain epileptic, however, and this is caused by the permanent scar in my brain. However, the epilepsy is completely under control thanks to ongoing medication. I also have mild difficulty concentrating and can't focus on any one activity for long. I can no longer drive or cycle.
Socially, things haven't gone as smoothly. I couldn't handle my administrative position in the government anymore. The stress sent me into epileptic states. It's also not easy to pick up the thread again after a three-year absence. You're not used to it anymore, but meanwhile, your place has also been taken by someone else...
After two attempts to return to work, I took early retirement for health reasons. This halved my income, but thankfully my family is provided for, although the adjustment was certainly not easy.
I'm now a happy young retiree who enjoys being with my wife and daughter. And I'm still capable of many things!
What happened next?
In 2011, the tumor flared up again. Frank was given a different medication. This initially helped, and the newly formed tumor disappeared. But in December 2011, he suffered a severe epileptic seizure. A new, large tumor was visible. After surgery to partially remove the tumor and various other medications, Frank increasingly lost his function. He died on May 27, 2012. He had survived the tumor for 15 years, while the average survival time was 1.5 years.
You can order a detailed report free of charge via our email address: info@wg-hersentumoren.be
It will then be delivered to you electronically.
