Just when you think it's all better ....
For me, overcoming adversity has had unexpected consequences. I’ve suffered from depression on and off for about 15 years and for the last half of this period have had to use drugs to maintain a normal life. For the last year I have been on a minimum dose but was frightened to give up, finally doing so when I went on holiday and forgot to pack them.

Adversity over or so I thought. Just before I went away, I developed permanent pins and needles in my left foot, followed a few weeks later by spasms in my left calf and foot. I was diagnosed with a trapped nerve, which didn’t surprise me as I’d been doing some heavy work and I’m not used to that. I was booked for a scan on my return from holiday, so off I went to Greece and had a good time. However, my leg got worse and in the last few days I started noticing that my left hand was getting weak and I was finding using it to eat difficult.

I got back and went for the scan. I had to sign a consent form and found I could barely write - I’m left-handed. Obviously I realised this was not a trapped nerve, so I went to my GP, who got more tests done. My guess was brain tumour, motor neurone disease or MS. First one was right. I’m one of the 4500 people in the UK who get a primary brain tumour for no discernible reason every year. About 25% of these get a grade 4 glioblastoma, the most common. It’s malignant and 100% fatal and this is what I have. Adversity was back with a vengeance.

At this point you enter the cancer treatment system. I’m fortunate to live in the Manchester area so for me this was Hope hospital and Christies. I was given the choice of no treatment, in which case I had 3-4 months, near total removal of the tumour which would give me the longest time but would leave me totally paralysed on my left-hand side or removal of as much of the tumour that they could get at safely, which would give me less time but some degree of recovery from the paralysis. I chose the last of these and am I glad I did. When I came round, I was totally paralysed on the left, but after 3 weeks I started to get movement back in my arm and leg, one joint at a time. Now, 3 months later after physiotherapy, I’m reasonably functional and can stand up for several minutes unsupported. I am expected to be able to walk again within a month. Adversity much reduced. I’ve also had radiotherapy for 6 weeks and have tolerated this with very minimal side effects. Again, very lucky.

Now all I can do is hope for as long as possible and try to do as much as I can in the time I have left. I’m 58 and the average time of survival from removal of the tumour is about 15 months. My chances of reaching 60 in February 2014 are well less than 50% in theory, but the statistics are misleading. Medical statistics are medians, not means and the statistics published cover all patients. Factors like my age and my good neurological condition give me a better chance than some of longer survival, and there are a small but significant number of patients surviving for 2 to 5 years.

Length for me is the thing I want most
(Dr Arsenic Making bad coffee since 1978, Tue 18 Dec 2012, 23:01, 17 replies)

Go for it.
My ex was diagnosed with the same condition a few years ago. She was given 6 months at best without treatment; maybe a year if she had chemo. She ended up having another two years. The first thing she did was buy a motorhome and her and her second husband fucked off around the country at every opportunity.

Cancer's a bastard, but give it the finger while you can.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Tue 18 Dec 2012, 23:12, closed)

Statistics = best guess
My wife beat the metastatic breast cancer odds by nearly five years. I hope you are as fortunate. I wish you as good a ride as possible.
(wertperch is losing his hair, marbles and patience., Wed 19 Dec 2012, 4:53, closed)

Mine had her 10 years a couple of weeks ago.
Woooooo!
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Wed 19 Dec 2012, 6:52, closed)

my wife is beating the shit out of MS
She sees herself in the "good" percentage, and won't ever contemplate the alternative. Yoga, swimming, meditation, diet and an informed knowledge of her medical treatments are her weapons. And a few visits to a good psychiatrist.
( Ken Oath, Wed 19 Dec 2012, 6:03, closed)

Protip: in order to not die, simply remain alive.

( BraynDedd Natasha Kaplinsky's labia majora, Wed 19 Dec 2012, 6:50, closed)

You've been reading the cheat manual

( Jeccius Steam Borderlands 2 junkie, Wed 19 Dec 2012, 8:14, closed)

Shh!
Imagine the chaos if this were ever to get out.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Wed 19 Dec 2012, 10:27, closed)

'I’m fortunate to live in the Manchester area'
LOL
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 19 Dec 2012, 8:46, closed)

Just...
...keep fighting! Well done for getting this far. Keep us posted.
( The Lone Groover has mal des nuts., Wed 19 Dec 2012, 10:13, closed)

I didn't think anyone could top the "shitting in a bag" crowd,
but you sure showed them! Umm, congratulations?
Glad to hear your of the "grab life by the balls and shake it" mindset.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Wed 19 Dec 2012, 10:31, closed)

Good luck to you mate!
Sincerely.
( SauronWibble I'll hold it, you lick it..., Wed 19 Dec 2012, 10:42, closed)

Good luck dude
Kick cancer in the balls for me. Lost to many of my folks to it.
(andythepieman Is surfing the waves of indifference on, Wed 19 Dec 2012, 10:55, closed)

Good Luck to you!!!
I really hope it goes as smoothly as possible for you.
( skeltonator Needs some new daps., Wed 19 Dec 2012, 14:29, closed)

That's a shit hand to be dealt.
I hope you get enough decent time to cross a few things off your bucket list. Best of luck.
( Happy Phantom has been to Hastings, Brighton, and Eastbourne too, Wed 19 Dec 2012, 19:21, closed)

Never mind your means and your medians.
It doesn't work like that. My bessiemate had a massive BT aged twenty five, 14 years ago. Still alive and kicking the shit out of adversity despite getting an infection in her stent resulting in imminent death prophesies by the medics. After five weeks in hospital, stent dug out and antibiotics she's been right as rain now for past ten years. When I say right as rain she's on her third guide dog and does voluntary work counselling people who have trouble coping with life. You're not a statistic you're an individual so go for it. One thing's for certain, nobody ever lived longer by giving up. And if your luck's out and you pop your clogs early then you gave it your best go. How many of us can claim that? Hope you get your length.
( edjogs Collared doves are shit., Wed 19 Dec 2012, 23:25, closed)

Not as bad, but hope I have the same attitude
Good luck with the treatment, and you really have the right attitude.

Having been told for the past 5 years that I have a congenital birth defect causing partial deafness, I maintained that it was not the case. I've finally been told that its probably either an astrocytoma in my left parietal lobe, or an olidendroglioma, but due to its location, no biopsy at the moment.
It's a big kick up the arse walking into a meeting with two consultants and an oncology nurse, but I can honestly say that the NHS has some of the best people working for it, and I'll forever be in their debt. I'm signed up for as many research programmes as possible, raising money for charities relating to brain tumours, and have treated this as a clean slate for my life. Some brilliant friends and family have helped with this, and I hope I can repay them.
(leemel, Thu 20 Dec 2012, 1:12, closed)

Without this sounding like we're on imgur
Can I be 1 of the many others here requesting you to cunt that cancer in the fuck!
Please.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Thu 20 Dec 2012, 4:37, closed)