Glioblastoma Multiforme : My Wife’s Brain Cancer Tumor Has a Name

The Diagnosis

Yesterday at about 3:00 PM we got a call from Dr. Jones, Angela’s Neurosurgeon, that the pathology report came back and Angela has Glioblastoma Multiforme Stage IV or, GBM for short. On the phone call, the surgeon said it’s an aggressive cancer and it will be treated aggressively. The thing of it is, that this type of cancer usually strikes people in their 70’s and the cancer tumors are usually found in patients at THREE times – FOUR times the size that Angela had removed during surgery just a few weeks ago. 

A number of things work in our favor:

• The fact that we caught the cancer early.
• The fact that Angela is young with little health issues. 
• The fact that we believe in everday miracles.
• The fact she has a team of doctors working together. 

The Treatment Plan

Today we met with the radiation oncologist at Moses Health Cancer Center. Angela will undergo a standard plan of treatment for this cancer.  Angela will have a daily (Monday – Friday) radiology treatments for 6 weeks. The radiation is focused on the tumor sites and she will temporarily lose some hair at the radiation site.

Along with radiation she will have chemotherapy. The drug temozolomide is the current standard of treatment for GBM. The drug is generally administered every day during radiation therapy and then for six to 12 cycles after radiation. Each cycle lasts for 28 days, with temozolomide given the first five days of each cycle, followed by 23 days of rest.  

The Impact On Us

The impact on us has been nothing short of earth-shattering, saddening and gut-wrenching. But, we are all dedicated to each other and to fighting this with everything we and everyone on Team Angela can help us muster. Miracles happen every day and we fully expect Angela to be among the miraculous “durable” outcomes (medical science doesn’t go so far as to call it a cure). 

Taking it all one day at a time. One step at a time. Repeat: Taking it all one day at a time. One step at a time.

If you want to read more on the cancer here’s a link on the American Association of Neurosurgeons website. 

If you would like to donate to Angela’s escalating care costs please see the Go Fund Me setup in her name.