Is it cancer?

Many people have asked me in regards to Stefan’s tumour – “is it cancer?”.  We won’t know for certain what the tumour type is until we get the pathology report.   In the meantime, following are a couple points I have found in my internet research (from either the BC Cancer Agency website or the Canadian Cancer Society websites) (The surgeon who operated on Stefan said it looked like a grade 2 Astrocytoma):

1.  Although grade 1 and 2 brain tumours may be considered “low grade”, grade 2 tumours are infiltrating, meaning they spread cells within the brain that cannot be entirely removed by surgery.  In addition, grade 2 tumours have a significant tendency to become more malignant over time (“malignant transformation”).  In simple terms, no tumour growing inside the brain tissue should ever be considered benign.  Only a small fraction can be removed totally by surgery, and even the slowest growing tumour can be lethal if left to grow unchecked within the closed space of the skull.

2.  Low‑grade diffuse astrocytomas account for approximately 35% of all astrocytomas. They are most often found in young adults, between the ages of 20 and 40 years.

I’ll leave this blog with a quote which was written into a card from a friend who also had a serious health even just over a year ago:

“You never know how strong you are until strong is the only choice you have.” – anonymous

A message from Stefan

Happy New Year Everyone!

I am a very lucky man.  Why do I consider myself lucky?

1.  The tumour was found.

2.  The initial treatment was quick.

3.  I felt so much better after the initial treatment.

4.  Families, both Taleen's and mine, became the organizers, "home base" and people connection sources for Taleen and I.  This ensured that Taleen could stay at the hospital with me and keep track of the info that was being shared on my situation.  Our home stayed strong and stable.

5.  I have had support that was SO STRONG from people I work with in our district, worked with at SFU, played rugby with, went to university with, and family friends. This large number of people was matched by those people who have a similar relationship with Taleen - her work, her family and her SFU connections.  I had visitors who supported Taleen, my family and me - it lightened my spirits at the hospital.  I had phone calls, emails, cards and letters that shared ideas, information, concerns, family experiences and motivating feelings.  Food baskets, frozen meals, flower bouquets and gifts (not to mention the beef jerky supplies!) were brought to the family at home and to me at the hospital - all of them adding strength to fighting the situation I am in.

I want to say thank you for the strong support, the offers, the ideas, and the motivation.  It  will continue to help me and my family with this situation and help me fight off the rest of the tumour.  I am still unclear about the next steps I need to take but with your help I will take them on hard.  My regular day schedule may be altered for a while.  I will know for sure once the Cancer Clinic has passed on information and instruction.  There may be a time or two that I may need some advice and/or help and will certainly be calling on the abundant offers of help we have had, as I'm aware I may have a tough road ahead.

Thank you for the help you are providing me.  I owe you.

Today I am a very happy man.

I wish you all the best for 2011,

Stefan

Happy New Year

Hope everyone had a great New Year's eve - and is enjoying this beautiful new years day!  We had a lovely dinner at the Keg (our daughter enjoyed both her chicken fingers and my filet mignon - much to her father's delight!).

We had made a quick drop in at a family friends New Year's party - and were home for just after 8pm to put our doodlebug to bed.  Someone must have told her it was New Year's though - as she woke us up just before 10 for a 40 minute cry - very unlike her - she would calm down if the tv was on - so I don't know if something was bothering her and tv manged to distract her - or if she was just that insistent on watching tv!  She eventually tired herself out - and fell back asleep.

Stefan and I enjoyed a bit of champagne (small taste for Stefan as he's not supposed to drink due to the risk of seizures) - and made our bucket list (for those who don't know what a bucket list is - a list of all the things you want to do before you die).  Perhaps a bit morbid - but you start to think of things like this after a serious health experience.  Mine was twice as long as Stefans - I'm not going to share them here - but can tell you one mutual item - we both want to do a half marathon.  We will be looking into some cancer runs - these obviously have new meaning to us now.  The Coquitlam Principals and Vice Principals Association (CPVPA) put on a cancer run in the spring - we'll participate in that again.  There is also a Brain Tumour Foundation run in the spring (last year's was around Burnaby Lake).  The half marathon is probably a bit away for us - but we will look into some shorter runs/walks in the mean-time.

We are going to enjoy this beautiful New Year's Day - hope you all do too!