On April 23rd, Lisa went into the emergency room for dizziness, nausea, and confusion. We learned that she had a tumor on the left side of her brain. The next day she was operated on and the entire tumor was taken out. Unfortunately, the pathology report showed that the tumor was malignant, and Lisa was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a particularly aggressive kind of brain cancer.
The surgery was successful in removing the tumor itself and Lisa has been recovering well. She has been regaining her strength and mental clarity. The next step is for Lisa to begin actively treating her cancer. Although the visible tumor was completely removed, it is highly likely that residual, microscopic cancer cells remain inside her brain. To attack those cells and destroy them, Lisa will begin radiation therapy soon, combined with chemotherapy. The plan of action at this point is undergo 6 weeks of combined radiation and chemotherapy, followed up by lower doses of chemotherapy for a longer period of time after that. Once she’s completed her initial chemo and radiation, her medical team will reevaluate her. If further care is needed, another option may be a less invasive but more cumbersome treatment involving electromagnetic fields that her oncologist is recommending.
This is going to be a long road, but Lisa is young, strong, and healthy, and she is determined to beat this. We’ve set up this Caring Bridge as a way for everyone to communicate rather than calling and texting. We appreciate all of your love and prayers.
CaringBridge is a nonprofit social network dedicated to helping family and friends communicate with and support loved ones during a health journey. Learn more about CaringBridge.
