Scary, You bet your life it is! However you have received this news, it has to be a shock to your whole system. This turbulent time, following a brain tumour diagnosis, often leaves people with little, or at best troubled, sleep. Waking hours can be filled with anxiety where you are in the unfamiliar territory of hospitals, brain scanners and facing your own demons. Putting on that brave face, masking your fears or meningioma symptoms, to protect family and other loved ones is exhausting and can leave you emotionally drained.
It is essential that you have the strength to meet these challenges both physically and emotionally. You may have to make some of the most important decisions of your life right now, and you need to face these decisions with clarity, despite the upheaval all around you.
There are countless tried and tested methods of relaxation from lavender pillows to yoga. Many will be available to you in some guise or other, via your local community or through a simple internet search. However, some of these techniques take time to master and learning a new skill at this time may not be such a relaxing experience.
Giving yourself time to think, is every bit as effective. This does not mean time to worry, get agitated or drown in self pity. It means allowing yourself time to digest all the meningioma facts, how you feel about it and setting your resolve to deal with it.
In a stressful state your muscles tighten, all over your body. This is incredibly energy sapping and makes sleep almost impossible. All this is in addition to any meningioma symptoms that you may be experiencing. A walk along the beach, a quiet place in the park or a place that is special to you can provide the perfect atmosphere to remove you from your suddenly acquired stress inducing, thought-clutter. In a relaxed state, your rate of breathing slows, your blood pressure reduces and importantly, your muscle tension decreases.
It has long been accepted that a good sleep is a great panacea. It gives you more energy, now more than ever you need this to deal with your day. You really don't need a common cold on top of your brain tumour, and better sleep increases your resistance to viruses. If you are better able to concentrate after a reasonable sleep or a period of quality relaxation, then you are better placed to take control of what is happening to you and you will feel less vulnerable.
This special relaxation time does not need to be spent alone, but it is better to be away from situations that cause your stress, and don't forget, the people that you love the most may be the ones that you feel most stressed about sharing the details of your meningioma brain tumour with. If you are rested and relaxed, your emotions more stable so you have a better chance of sharing with and keeping close, the people most important to you.
Ultimately, the most important issue is that you understand your meningioma brain tumour - and for that you need a clear head!
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If you would like to read more about one woman's fascinating and uplifting story and discover how she coped with her brain tumour from diagnosis through to recuperation, you can obtain her Book here: http://www.mybraintumour.com
Source: http://www.submityourarticle.com/
Permalink: http://www.submityourarticle.com/a.php?a=46769
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Progress In Fighting Brain Tumours?
Why Has There Been So Little Progress In Fighting Brain Tumours?
It is a fact that brain tumours account for less than 2% of total cancers which makes them relatively uncommon when compared to other cancers such as lung, breast and prostrate cancers.
Because there are so many different subtypes, requiring different treatment strategies screening for them, as they do for breast and prostrate cancers is almost an impossible task.
Due to the above situation and the different subtypes, funding is harder to obtain and therefore clinical trials that would eventually lead to more rigorous testing are fewer.
I believe there has also been less exposure in the media in the past, but of late we have seen a prominant figure and celebrities that have been diagnosed, namely Kennedy, Russell Watson the singer and Sevi Ballesteros the golfer. These prominant figureheads have drawn the publics attention to the brain tumor problem but public education is not high on the agenda and few people unless actually diagnosed or affected indirectly by the diagnosis of a family member or friend, are really aware of symptoms, treatments and long term results.
A good website to visit to obtain further information on what is going on in these fields is: www.virtualtrials.com
It is a fact that brain tumours account for less than 2% of total cancers which makes them relatively uncommon when compared to other cancers such as lung, breast and prostrate cancers.
Because there are so many different subtypes, requiring different treatment strategies screening for them, as they do for breast and prostrate cancers is almost an impossible task.
Due to the above situation and the different subtypes, funding is harder to obtain and therefore clinical trials that would eventually lead to more rigorous testing are fewer.
I believe there has also been less exposure in the media in the past, but of late we have seen a prominant figure and celebrities that have been diagnosed, namely Kennedy, Russell Watson the singer and Sevi Ballesteros the golfer. These prominant figureheads have drawn the publics attention to the brain tumor problem but public education is not high on the agenda and few people unless actually diagnosed or affected indirectly by the diagnosis of a family member or friend, are really aware of symptoms, treatments and long term results.
A good website to visit to obtain further information on what is going on in these fields is: www.virtualtrials.com
Monday, January 5, 2009
Happy New Year Everyone
I read an inspiring book over the Christmas break and felt quite humbled by it.
It is a book about how life suddenly changed overnight for a guy who was 38 and suffered a brain lesion. His book, like mine, takes you through his experience of events. I felt sorry for him, angry for him, understood fully his hospital fiascoes and what I ended up feeling was proud of him, for his determination, perseverance and being able to keep a hold of his wit and long term vision throughout the nightmare.
The book for anyone interested is called:
'I Think There's Something Wrong With Me' by Nigel Smith.
An enjoyable, thought provoking read.
It is a book about how life suddenly changed overnight for a guy who was 38 and suffered a brain lesion. His book, like mine, takes you through his experience of events. I felt sorry for him, angry for him, understood fully his hospital fiascoes and what I ended up feeling was proud of him, for his determination, perseverance and being able to keep a hold of his wit and long term vision throughout the nightmare.
The book for anyone interested is called:
'I Think There's Something Wrong With Me' by Nigel Smith.
An enjoyable, thought provoking read.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Track Santa Around The World Tonight
Santa Tracker Will Tell You Exactly Where In The World Santa Is Right Now!
Santa Claus Tracker!
http://www.noradsanta.org/
A very Merry Christmas everyone. Hope he reaches you in time!
http://www.noradsanta.org/
A very Merry Christmas everyone. Hope he reaches you in time!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Gene Link Found - Brain Tumour Research
Research published in the latest edition of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reveals that a mutation has been discovered in a DNA repair gene which may increase the risk of developing the rare type of brain tumour called Meningioma.
More than 7,500 people are diagnosed with malignant or benign brain tumours in the UK each year. Meninigiomas account for over 30 per cent of these, yet little is known about the cause of the disease which tends to affect older people, and women. It is reported that the mutation found in the DNA repair gene may account for 16 per cent of meningiomas.
The new study examined genetic differences in the brains of people from four European countries. Data from patients with meningiomas was compared with healthy individuals and a new region associated with meningioma risk has been identified.
This research into gene changes offers progress towards early non-invasive diagnosis of the disease as opposed to the present situation where biopsy is the only true diagnosis.
Interesting results. Well done Cancer Research UK. Take a bow and keep up the good work.
More than 7,500 people are diagnosed with malignant or benign brain tumours in the UK each year. Meninigiomas account for over 30 per cent of these, yet little is known about the cause of the disease which tends to affect older people, and women. It is reported that the mutation found in the DNA repair gene may account for 16 per cent of meningiomas.
The new study examined genetic differences in the brains of people from four European countries. Data from patients with meningiomas was compared with healthy individuals and a new region associated with meningioma risk has been identified.
This research into gene changes offers progress towards early non-invasive diagnosis of the disease as opposed to the present situation where biopsy is the only true diagnosis.
Interesting results. Well done Cancer Research UK. Take a bow and keep up the good work.
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