Living with Brain Cancer

It was a friday like any other, I was with my girlfriend and we were about to enjoy a nice day of shopping, I drove to the mall and we went inside. Not more than 5 minutes through the doors of a department store and I had the strangest feeling, like I was gonna die, really die. In medical terms this is a feeling of impending doom.

Before I knew I felt my body start to tremble violently, it started in my face, I could see my cheeks tremble, I realized what was happening and tried to hold on as long as I could, but once the siezure hit about my waist I went unconsious. I experienced a grand mal seizure that lasted for about 90 seconds. There were paramedics there immediatly it seemed I was rushed to an ER, where after two CT scans it was determined that I had a sizable brain tumor in my right frontal lobe. This news was so unbelievable, I was so young and healthy.

In reality I ignored the debilitating one-sided headaches for over a year, without health insurance, I never got them checked. Ten days following my diagnosis I was having brain surgery. Following discarge, I thought the worst was over. I got the call a week later to see my neurosugeon. When he told me the tumor was larger than previously thought and malignent, I felt like my life was over. 23 and given a death sentance.

I completed 7 weeks of daily radiation treatments, declined chemotherapy all three times it was suggested. Now almost five years later, I am still here and decided to dedicate my life to helping others.

To anyone who may read this. There is always hope, and cancer isn’t always the end.