Comments on: One of My Worst

By: Erin

Erin — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 22:49:19 +0000

I work at a hospice, and we’ve had 4 GBMs in the month that I’ve worked there. Super sad stories, all of them.

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:49:37 +0000

A few years ago we took my 8 year old daughter in to Emergency for IV hydration, as for weeks they’d told us that she had a particularly virulent form of stomach flu that was going on. Imagine our surprise when they found 3 tumours the next morning…sometimes things just blindside you.

(She’s fine now- we were lucky. But I’ve never seen a doctor look so ill as ours did when the tumours popped out at us- I thought that our wonderful doctor was going to pass out in front of me.)

By: Drama Mama

Drama Mama — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:20:48 +0000

That is terrible- not what I was expecting at all!

By: William the Coroner

William the Coroner — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:28:39 +0000

When the rumor is tumor, and cancer might be the answer, only tissue will resolve the issue.

Thus speaketh the pathologist.

By: ddx:dx

ddx:dx — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:52:01 +0000

Yup bad news. Gotta handle it all.
I was called from our office Christmas party by the ER to admit a 55 year old with new onset seizure. He was in CT but the description of a Jacksonian seizure(http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7457) was worrisome.
Sure enough, 4 cm mass in the R temporal. Radiologist shrugged,” Probably Glioblastoma with the surrounding edema, doubt astrocytoma…hm, could be an abcess but I doubt it.”
The patient took it about like I would. “I guess it’s over then…” His wife is sobbing. 4 school-age kids. I insisted that tissue diagnosis is critical.
We need a biopsy.
Why? What’s the point?
It’s important to be sure of the diagnosis. So we can know how to treat you.
But I’m going to die.
Maybe. But I want to be able to recommend appropriate care and I cannot be sure of my recommendations without tissue.
Two weeks later on open biopsy it is an abcess. A year of abx and he sees his daughter married. Now a grandpa.

By: HospiceDoc

HospiceDoc — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:20:26 +0000

Unfortunately, I see such horrific things all the time.
The words “pediatric hospice” make everyone cringe.

By: Nick Brasher

Nick Brasher — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:56:21 +0000

GBM has been working on me for 2 years now. I have one tumor in my corpus callosum and one in my occipital lobe.
I am fortunate to be young, 36, so the prognosis is better than most because I’m better able to tolerate the chemicals. I have 3 young children myself…of whom don’t have the intellect or coping skills to understand what the future likely holds. Luckily, outside of frequent seizures, I’ve been able to enjoy modest stability.

By: Angry Professor

Angry Professor — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:21:55 +0000

Ach, it killed my dad. I can’t even read the words “glioblastoma multiforme” without crying.

By: Nurse K

Nurse K — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:05:49 +0000

I once had a young lady (small children, husband, etc) get admitted with first-time seizure and new diagnosis of brain tumor. This was on maybe 12/10 of whatever year. Brain biopsy=GBM. She died on Christmas Day after her tumor had grown 4 or 5 cm in 2 weeks. It was unreal and very sad.

By: beth

beth — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:50:07 +0000

that is very sad. I am thankful that my chldren are healthy, but makes me realize that things can change at any moment.