Friday 19th July 2013 - 7 Years Clear!

I had a really good feeling when I woke up on Friday morning last week because exactly 7 years ago on the 19th I made my way to the hospital to have my meningioma removed. I was very apprehensive and scared and lots of worries were invading my very happy life. I can report that it was accessible, it was benign, all was removed successfully and I am still here, still living my happy life thanks to the skill of my medical team. So, I woke up and decided to take the day off, read my book on the beach for a few hours, maybe buy a bottle of bubbles for dinner and celebrate in style!

I did all these things and enjoyed my day with my fabulous husband and family. Later that same evening I received a distressed email from a close friend to say that his brother had just been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour but not many details at that stage. I offered my support and advised how important it was for him to stay positive for his brother and to remain calm until further details were forthcoming.

Was this my poke in the ribs to remind me to forever be grateful for how lucky I am? Was it a message to celebrate but to remain cautious? Whatever the message, I remain very thankful and always aware that there is always someone, somewhere else fighting to survive.

My Story

BRAIN TUMOUR NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA

Just reading through a local paper here in Queensland last week and it reports that Brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Australias youth and accounts for more than one third of cancer deaths in children under 10. One person dies from malignant brain cancer every eight hours in Australia!

These are alarming statistics. More awareness and funding is desparately required for further research as brain cancer research is the least funded but deadliest cancer in Australia today. A leading Neurosurgeons commented that it will take AU$50 billion over the next 30-50 years to find a cure for brain cancer but that funds are required urgently now to make an impact on reducing the alarming statistics above.

Once diagnosed, patients have just a 5% chance of surviving this extremely aggresive disease and most die within 12 months. Brain cancer remains the least understood of all cancers. Risk factors are unknown and there are no screening procedures in place.

A third of all other cancers can be prevented by us making concious lifestyle choices, for example by regular exercise, not smoking and eating balanced diets. However, brain cancer in indiscriminate and due to lack of research they do not know how to prevent it.

For more information on Brain Cancer Action Week and how to donate please visit: Brain Cancer Action Australia

Everyone Should Have A Chance!

How It All Started

14/7/2006 - Having visited my doctor 2 days previously with a stange complaint I was back to see him again, not feeling ill but with a mystery complaint. That is when it all started and by the end of the day I was told I had my very own space invader.

So how do you know whether the strange things that are happening to you mean you have a brain tumour? The truth is we don't always recognise symptoms because people experience different things. Raised intracranial pressure can cause headaches, visual problems and vomiting. Mood swings and changes in behaviour are general signs of a brain tumour and many people experience epileptic fits as an early symptom. I don't think I experienced any of these but I did have something funny going on with my left leg!

Today Is The Day

Hi everyone

Back again to tell you all my Ebook has today gone live for purchase. I'm looking to make as much money as possible for Brain Tumour Research so I hope you will find time to visit my website and consider a purchase. I promise you will find a full account of my experience from start to finish and hopefully you will enjoy a few giggles and some dramatic photos along the way. (It is an 'uplifting account' I promise)

Just in case you are wondering what this is all about, my Ebook is called:

My Brain Tumour - One Womans Uplifting Story

Here is the Introduction to give you some insight and I will post an extract from Chapter One next week:

INTRODUCTION

Hi,

My name is Lynda.

You are probably desperately searching for answers having recently been told that either you or someone very close to you has a meningioma. My thoughts and good wishes are with you all.

Your journey is just about to begin and the purpose of me writing this book is to share with you my journey in the hope that it will help you a little to understand the emotions, shock and sheer terror that such news brings and to offer some encouragement.

The one thing I have learnt though throughout my research is that nobody has the exact same experience and it is therefore my aim to include the resources to find good information and associations that have forums for you to ask questions of other meningioma survivors. Please remember what I said above though, that everybody has a different story and we all experienced different things. Your story will be different again and one of your best friends at this time will be your doctor. If you haven’t already, find one that has time for you, one that you trust and respect and ask as many questions as you need to.

Being diagnosed with a brain tumour is a nightmare. It turns your world upside down and is both scary and worrying for both the victim and their family. I use the word ‘victim’, because that’s how I felt at the time and I hope that by reading my story it will help you in coming to terms with your own situation.

My very happy world was hit by a thunderbolt on the 14th July 2006 when I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. I had a brain tumour; I had it surgically removed on 19th July 2006 and was back in my own home on 29th July, relieved that I had made it through safely, thankful for a second chance and wondering what all the initial fuss was about.

I don’t mean to be flippant in any way. I know that I was probably luckier than most with regard to the position of my meningioma, I had a fabulous doctor with in-sight, I had a top rate neurosurgeon, I had my hero and the love of my life by my side, I had the love of family and friends and I also had the will and determination to overcome this hiccup in my life. I am a survivor.

Take a look at the website for more information.....

I'll be back next week.

Regards Lynda

My First Post - Nearly Ready To Launch

I am so excited. I have just completed my first ever E-book, all on my own, on my very favourite subject at the moment - my brain tumour and it will be ready for launch next week and hopefully making some useful cash contribution to brain tumour research.

I am really hoping it will help any of you out there in Blog land who may have been diagnosed or know someone who has because it is a very scary time and this is a positive account to offer you some encouragement. I will be back during the week to let you know more....