My Son's Inoperable Brain Tumor

When my oldest son was diagnosed with a brain tumor, after keeling over with a string of seizures, I was shocked, angry, concerned, sad and confused. How had the tumor never been noted previously? What suddenly brought on the signs of the tumor? Would he die from it? Become debilitated?

After the initial shock, and a batch of tests in Winston-Salem, I began to study more about brain tumors online. I used to think a brain tumor meant certain death, but not so! A brain tumor can cause everything from trembling, to inability to eat, to, yes, death, but in some cases, it simply means clumsiness or difficulty pronouncing words. The physician was helpful, at least with the prognosis, stating that the tumor could possibly move, and surgery would then become an option, or the tumor could stay in position and cause all sorts of problems.

Among the more prominent symptoms of brain tumors are headaches, a change in the person's personality, sleep disturbances, vomiting, no desire for food, a noticeable difference in the gait - or walk - of the person, sensory disturbances, mood swings, emotional outbursts or behavioral problems, seizures, speech problems and intellectual disturbances.

Severe headache, seizure or behavioral issues are the primary reasons a person is taken to the emergency room, or doctor, and then diagnosed with a brain tumor, after a CT scan. Some tumors are inoperable, and will cause death, and the physician will discuss this with the patient and/or guardians at the time. Other tumors lie in place and cause havoc with everything from eye sight to outbursts of rage. Various drugs may be used to prevent seizures and help with mood swings.

Initially, the physician may want to do a series of MRI tests, which is an imaging test that allows the doctor to detect movement of the tumor, additional tumors, or life-threatening ailments related to the tumor. This is a painless procedure where the patient is placed into a tube-like machine which will take the necessary images.