Anaplastic astrocytoma: My husband's brain tumor story

It was 2005, and Bradly, just nine months out of college, was working as a speech pathologist. We weren't married yet, but after dating for five years, I had no doubt this was the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with. 

 

I just hadn't expected the rest of his life to potentially be a matter of months or years.

 

Bradly had been having headaches on and off, so his primary care doctor prescribed several different headache and sinus medications. When these didn't work, the doctor finally ordered a CT scan of his head.  

 

"Have you seen your scan? It's not good. You have a big brain tumor in your head," the emergency room doctor said.

 

A needle biopsy of the tumor revealed a grade II astrocytoma, a slow growing, but malignant tumor that needed to be removed immediately. 

 

The team of local neurosurgeons we saw couldn't agree on the best way to treat Bradly's tumor. A few thought it would be impossible to remove the entire tumor. Because of its location and the possibility of major deficits after surgery, it would be best to wait until Bradly had more severe headaches and other symptoms before attempting to remove part of the tumor.

 

"You probably won't walk or talk again after this surgery, so you should enjoy the quality of life while you have it," our neurosurgeon told Bradly. "This tumor is going to take your life." 

 

 

There was one answer we'd agreed on immediately: we would go to MD Anderson. We left that visit with a referral and spent the next three months with Bradly's aunt and uncle in Houston. During our first visit, we met with Sujit Prabhu, M.D.. He had such a calm, confident presence about him and eased our fears. 

 

We left with a battery of exams scheduled for the next few days, including an awake craniotomy to try to remove the orange-sized tumor in Bradly's head. Bradly also underwent a functional MRI, where his doctors identified the areas of the brain that may be affected during surgery. 

 

Amazingly, his brain had adapted and almost made room for this mass, with most functions moving to the other side. Dr. Prabhu and his team felt strongly that Bradly may not lose any brain function because of the surgery.

 

A week later, Bradly underwent surgery. Dr. Prabhu was able to remove all visible tumor. 

 

It turned out to be not a grade II, but grade III anaplasticastrocytoma -- a more aggressive tumor that calls for a follow-up of radiation and chemotherapy. 

 

So, Bradly completed six weeks of radiation under the care of Anita Mahajan, M.D., another incredibly attentive andamazing physician. He then conquered nine months of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

 

We thought MD Anderson was a place we'd never see. We came in thinking: a cancer hospital, how depressing. But MD Anderson is the exact opposite. It exudes hope and care and an ease that you are in the best hands this world has to offer. Eight years later, we still return every four months for a follow-up scan and visit with neuro-oncologist Alfred Yung,M.D., and I am so thankful for him. He is more than a doctor. He cares and always inquires about our lives and how we are doing outside of the visits. 

 

So, how are we doing? We learned the most valuable lesson in life at such an early age -- it is precious and not promised. I almost think after the fight is the most difficult part because you are supposed to go back to "normal," and that's difficult when your normal has been changed. 

 

I don't go a day without thinking "what if?" We have a daughter and full-time jobs now. How would we drop everything to go through that again? But worrying doesn't change a thing. We try to live our lives, and we trust that the Lord will get us through if it does.