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J.J.'s Diagnosis
March 27, 2004 - J.J.'s primary brain tumor was sent to John Hopkins for a second opinion on the diagnoses and it changed a little. It is now classified as a grade III anaplastic astrocytoma. Although the surgeons removed everything that they could see, these tumors tend to send microscopic extensions into the surrounding tissue. So J.J. will have 6 weeks of daily radiation and 6 months of concurrent chemotherapy starting March 29 in Spokane, WA.
May 3, 2004 - J.J. is in his last week of radiation! He is still feeling well and is positive overall, even though he is somewhat bummed about losing his hair. Even with the health insurance J.J. has through his graduate program at school, the bills are starting to pile up. Please contact us if you would like to donate any money to help pay his medical bills.
August 18, 2004 - J.J. is just about to finish his chemotherapy. He is feeling well minus some of the effects of chemo. His first post-surgery MRI showed no signs of the cancer coming back. If the next five MRIs (one every 3 months) show the same, it will be a very good sign.
April 2005 - J.J. has successfully "passed" four MRIs without the cancer returning... that's over a year "cancer-free"!!
March 2006 - J.J. celebrates 2 years without any regrowth of the brain tumor! His MRI visits are cut back to merely 2 per year, and actual chances of re-growth are MINIMAL.
Radiation
J.J. first went to the hospital five days a week for six weeks for external beam radiation treatment. The treatment itself was quick and was not painful.
Radiation Therapy (pdf - 283k)
Provides an explanation of conventional external beam radiation.
Chemotherapy
For 6 months, chemotherapy is being taken orally from home each day.
Chemotherapy and You
Information about what to expect during chemotherapy and what patients can do to take care of themselves during and after treatment.
Living with a Brain Tumor
A guide to living with a brain tumor written for those newly diagnosed.
We Love You J.J.!
Information about Brain Tumors
What is a Brain Tumor?
Brain tumors are abnormal growths of tissue found inside the skull.
There are two categories of brain tumors:
A primary brain tumor is that which originates in the brain.
A metastatic (secondary) brain tumor occurs when cancer cells from other parts of the body spread to the brain.
Doctors sometimes group brain tumors by grade—from low grade (grade I) to high grade (grade IV). The grade of a tumor refers to the way the cells look under a microscope. Cells from high-grade tumors look more abnormal and generally grow faster than cells from low-grade tumors.
Brain Tumor Organizations
University of Washington Medical Center
Department of Neurological Surgery
Dr. Daniel Silbergeld (J.J.'s Brain Surgeon)
Brain Tumor Basics
A Primer of Brain Tumors
Diagrams, symptoms, statistics, how brain tumors are diagnosed, basic brain tumor information of over 130 types of brain tumors and their treatments.Surgery
Discusses types of surgical procedures and the latest tools and techniques available to neurosurgeons. (pdf - 246k)
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