David Berinson

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Dad started having issues late last year (2021) and family and friends pressured a private but usually healthy man to seek medical advice. He had a whole rheem of tests and scans but nothing untoward was identified. Zilch. Zero. Nil. Nada.

Heading into 2022 Dad started to notice more difficulties with memory and finding the right words.  He was aware of it but given previous tests hadn't uncovered anything he chose not to pursue it further with his GP. Over time he became subdued, quiet and didn't talk very much. For anyone who knows dad well would recognise this as being totally out of character. We changed his GP and were only just moving forward when on February 2nd his condition deteriorated and we decided to call 000. He was taken by ambulance to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Here he had more blood tests, urine tests and scans but this time the doctors spotted something. Not what we wanted to hear but at least there is now a reason for why this social, charming and confident man has been struggling. A brain tumour.

Jumping ahead...Dad's neurosurgeon at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital is Mr George Wong. He explained it's a Primary Tumour (meaning it originated in the brain and not metastasised from elsewhere in the body - Dad had bladder cancer in 2018 which was successfully treated), is quite large and is located near his left ear.  This area of the brain is the speech centre.  Early indications were that surgery would be to take a biopsy so we know what we're re up against and take what they can without impacting the brain tissue too much so to give dad the best chance at rehabilitating. The tumour is not encapsulated so they cannot remove all of it. Surgery will be followed up by chemotherapy and radiotherapy and hopefully that'll zap the rest. Then rehab and speech therapy to help him communicate again. We have hope.

Dad was originally booked for surgery on 11 Feb however he was bumped down the queue by another emergency and rebooked for friday 18 February. In the interim he has been moved to South Perth Private Hospital and receiving good care under prescriptive covid-19 limitations on visiting. Maximum of two fully vaccinated visitors per session. All of which need to be carefully coordinated to enable all dad's important people to visit, keep him reassured, supported and spirits boosted.


Check out the Journal, where we will provide updates and key information and the Planner, which shows visit bookings. 


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