hedgetrimmer has a brain tumor (no joke)

[gate of the sun]

I am hedgetrimmer's girl friend and he was diagnosed with a brain tumor last Saturday.....he will have surgery on next tuesday....Has anyone here had a brain tumor? we are really scared and well I just wanted to share this with you.....we are getting married Friday....not just because of the brain tumor. We were going to anyway. We haven't been on here since Saturday and I just thought we'd let you guys know.

[UrbScotty]

1. Oh my goodness.

How horrible. I wish for the very best, and may your wedding be that much sweeter.

[BigMcLargehuge]

2. please accept my good vibes

hope he recovers quickly. It's okay to be scared. I'll keep hedgetrimmer in my thoughts.

[Girlfriday]

3. I'm so sorry

Please tell him you are both in our prayers. I can tell you that a childhood friend had a brain tumor about seven years ago and she is strong and healthy today. :hug:

[Tinoire]

4. Gate of the Sun

You tell Hedgetrimmer I'm rooting for him! I'm sending nothing but pink vibes your way and his!

Tell him Tinoire is impatiently looking forward to seeing your wedding pictures!

Be strong for him ok? I know you're both scared and this isn't going to be an easy time for either of you- I'm just happy you have each other to lean on.

Take care and please keep us posted.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

[roguevalley]

5. Sweeties,

I don't know anyone who had one personally but I have
had friends who had them. The two people I have heard
talk about this did well. They always tell you the
worst case scenario because they want you to know all
the possibilities. However, and I cannot emphasize this
enough, they don't usually apply. Just believe. My
dad did and he's been fifteen years past his moment
with cancer. Just believe in good coming.

Keep a good attitude and keep close to us. You are
in my prayers.

RV, who wishes you both mazel tov and good life
together.

[villager]

40. an echo on that "mazel tov"

...to both of you.

Keep us all posted.

[Khephra]

6. Oh shit....

I'll pray for HT.

[unblock]

7. the fact that he's going into surgery is actually a good sign

beats the hell out of an inoperable tumor.

they don't go digging there unless they think they can get all of it.

best of luck, and congrats on your upcoming nuptials.

[Throckmorton]

8. Not a brain tumor, but Esophageal Cancer,

Mrs. Throckmorton is fighting stage four cancer as we speak. My advise to you, as one that has had to face many of the same questions you are facing is, get all the facts about the tumor you can. Ask a million questions, and remember to live for today.

[Old and In the Way]

12. Best wishes for your wife, Throckmorton and for Hedgetrimmer, too.

Modern medicine is pretty amazing and there's every to to believe and hope that you can beat it.

I just had a cancerous (carcinoma) tumor on my leg removed and am getting radiation treatments....as a precaution.

[jiacinto]

16. I am sorry

I've heard that that is one of the worst cancers you can get.

[Throckmorton]

24. She is in a good period at the moment,

But has major surgery planned in Early November. Yes, its five year survival rate is around 10%, and we are fast approaching the 1 year point.

[Snow]

9. You realize, I assume, that most brain tumors are benign,

ie not cancerous? Nevertheless, the damn things actually kill more people than the brain cancers because they're a lot more common. Some of them are very difficult to remove, all tangled in with the tissue, but there's also those that are basically pretty much self-contained blobs. Those are still nasty, because you have to do brain surgery to get them out, but once they're out they're gone. Our hopes and thoughts are with you.

[WilliamPitt]

10. Holding you both in the light

[hedda_foil]

11. My best friend did -- nearly 18 years ago and she's fine.

She really is. We'll all be praying for both of you.

[peterh]

13. Well….I’ve never been one to pull punches….

My brother had a non-metastasized brain tumor removed about 20 years ago. It came back 3 years ago and metastasized into a grade 4 glioma….He died two years ago…my best wishes go out to your boyfriend….hope they get it the first time and it stays gone.

[populistmom]

14. No experience

I hope everything goes well though. I'm sorry you both have to go through this.

[Punkingal]

15. I'm so sorry,

my best to you both. It is understandable that you are scared, but create a vision of surgery successfully completed, and hedgetrimmer strong and healthy. :grouphug:

[SOteric]

17. How frightening for you both. I will keep a good thought

for Hedgetrimmer, and one for you too.

:hug:

[leftist_rebel1569]

18. OH NO!

that's horrible! I feel so bad :(

You're in my thoughts and prayers tonight, I hope he gets better...

[TrogL]

19. My sister had a brain tumor

behind her right eye. They took half her head apart getting it out. She was in her late 50's at the time. Other than losing the sight in that eye nothing else happened. That was over ten years ago and she's fine.

[BurtWorm]

20. That must be terrifying for both of you.

I hope the best for you, you poor sweet people.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

21. There is another DU'er who underwent brain surgery and is doing well

Sean Reynolds. I only mention him by name because he posted regularly about it and most know already.

I was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in childhood and was on medication for many years for it. My brain simply grew larger and the tumor did not grow and it is no longer an issue.

I really appreciate Hedgetrimmer and you and I will keep you both in my thoughts.

Please let us know if there is ANYTHING we as a community can do.

[pansypoo53219]

22. my great aunt

had brain surgery and a baseball(not sure on size) sized tumor removed. she will be turning 92 in a couple of weeks.
Hope it works out as well for him.
we need his vote.

[lpbk2713]

23. My grandson had a brain tumor removed at age six.

He's doing fine now at age nine. Goes in for regular checkups but all is well. It was tense for a while but it worked out OK. I wish the same for the both of you. You'll find after the worst is over that this will make you stronger.

[kurtyboy]

25. My best wishes and hope on the surgery

Right now, it is difficult to say what will happen.

I lost a couple of close relatives to brain tumors, in both cases a Glioblastoma multiforme. I also have three friends who have had tumors removed and have remained productive and happy for years.

Even if Hedgetrimmmer has Glioblastoma multiforme (the most severe form of brain cancer) he may still not have a grim diagnosis. If he is middle aged or younger, the survival rate is encouraging. If older than 55, not as hopeful.

But that's just if its Glioblastoma multiforme. If a lesser grade of malignant tumor (I, II, or III), then aggressive treatments may be very successful. Not to mention that the tumor may be benign, in which case long-term effects might be negligable.

The bottome line is that you need to insist that the doctors treating Hedgetrimmer

COMMUNICATE

with you and spend as much time as necesary to help you understand what is going on. Even if the worst is discovered, you can still play an invaluable role in making things as human and warm and normal as possible.

But for now you, and the doctors, and Hedgetrimmer just need to get more information. That's why he's having surgery , and that's what will give you hope. I'm an Athiest, but nonetheless encourage and believe in the power of prayer. Pray if it is your custom, and get the answers you need to make the best possible choices from true inquiry.

I'll be thinking about you through the next few days...

Kurt

[OneBlueSky]

26. a friend of my brother had a tumor . . .

he and my brother were working together in his garage one day when he just collapsed and went into convulsions . . . he was rushed to the hospital, and the diagnosis was a brain tumor . . . he was operated on, the tumor was removed, and he's as healthy and happy as he's ever been two years after the fact . . . so don't despair . . . modern medicine is pretty sophisticated, and I'm sure everything will turn out well . . . still, hedgetrimmer will be in my prayers and thoughts . . . please keep up posted, and have a long and happy marriage! . . . :)

[leftofthedial]

27. sorry to hear that

a very good friend of mine was diagnosed with a brain tumor last May, had surgery in June and is fine today.

It all depends on the type, size, location, etc. of the tumor, but they can do amazing things these days.

All the best to you and to hedgetrimmer. Keep us posted.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

28. Ya'll are in my thoughts and wishes for nothing but the best.

[salin]

29. How frightening for you both

my prayers are with you through this... and for you wedding - at which I hope the Joy supercedes ALL ELSE for that moment. Congrats on your impending nuptuals.

[peacefreak]

30. Blessings to you both

You will be in my thoughts. Love, P

[Scottie72]

31. Good thoughts to you...

My sister had a brain tumor that was removed about 5 years ago now. We were told that it was "pre-cancerour". She is alive and doing very well today. She just has to go into the doctors on a yearly basis to make sure that it hasn't started to grow back.

[Chuckup]

32. Wishing him the best

[blm]

33. Whoa...sorry to hear it, but there's good news I can report...

My sister in law had a brain tumor and had an excellent recovery. Of course, it's extremely serious but not as dangerous as many expect. There have been far too many advancements to worry too much.

Best wishes to you both. Get planty of rest, because the recovery period will be exhausting for you, too.

[GOPisEvil]

34. My best wishes to both of you.

[maxpower]

35. Stay Strong

I will send all my positive vibes your way.

[MaineDem]

36. Oh, man!

Sending good thoughts for a successful surgery and an enjoyable wedding.

Best of luck to you both!

[cally]

37. I'm sending many

good wishes and hope for recovery your way. Enjoy your wedding and try to put the worries aside on that day. :hug:

[SoCalDem]

38. Fingers, eyes, & toes crossed here for you BOTH

Doctors can do amazing things these days, and even though the waiting will be agonizing for YOU, you will both get through this..

Congrats on the wedding too.:):)..

I have a feeling that he will do just fine..:) Do not let any question go unasked...

:grouphug:

[JitterbugPerfume]

39. A hug

from Jitterbug

check your PMs

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

41. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF WE CAN DO ANYTHING!!!

Flowers? Donations? Help you with the disability paperwork or questions....ANYTHING at all?

[LanternWaste]

42. Try this...it really works and it's not quackery, just love :)

I worked at an Outpatient Cancer Center for just over five years and have seen almost every type of cancer patient imaginable. Elderly, children, men ,women, black ,white, gay, straight.

After having been there for about two years, I caught onto something. Regardless of the type or lcation of the cancer, there was one constant: patients with good attitudes and happy personalities usually beat the odds (some cancers are much more treatable than others) and patients that gave up or became bitter about the experience usually passed on.

I am not exagerating this! I could give you case after case about patients (including patients with brain tumors) that simply didn't "allow" (for lack of a better word) the disease to interfere with their happy disposition and walked away after six weeks of radiation or a month of chemo and never looked back.

If you and he go through radiation, don't sweat it. It's painless and he'll get a really cool tattoo on his noggin. Chemo's a bit tougher and he may or may not have a reaction to it- it's a crap shoot in that regard. He may get listless, tired, worn-out easily and feel run down, but regardless of how he handles the treatments physically... Keep a smile on his face (newlyweds usually have no problems with that :) ) and don't let him get down about anything. Keep him focused on the good things in life and illustrate your love for him in the small ways.

It's almost taken as an insult these days, but I'm gonna risk it: I'll pray for both of you and for your happy and loooong marriage!

(I'm not an Oncologist, btw, but everything I've told you is the God's honset truth)

[Bossy Monkey]

43. Best wishes and hoping for a long life together for you both n/t

[GoddessOfGuinness]

44. Sending all my hopes for you both.....

Focus on the positives...like your wedding, good music, fine art, and funny movies and books. Keep the faith, because it can get you through the roughest spots.

I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers....

~huggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggs~

[demgurl]

45. I will keep the both of you in my thoughts and prayers.

I dod not know anyone who has had this but I understand it must be a scary time for the both of you. Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials and I know you will be there to give each other strength.

Christina