Hi All,

Firstly thank you for your honesty on the forum. Whilst it is upsetting to read it is also informative, and as most of you will remember, information seems hard to come by at our relatively early stage.

Mum was admitted to a stroke clinic aged 84 a couple of weeks ago. Her CT and subsequent MRI scans revealed a probable Glioblastoma. She is yet to have a biopsy and we are awaiting a definitive clinical diagnosis. Mum is a fighter and fiercely independent. Hence we believe she has been suffering with her tumour for some time. Certainly her sleepiness and further stroke like symptoms were quite profound before she was referred to the stroke clinic. She had become bed ridden and confused, often sleeping for complete days with her left side progressively weak. Some symptoms were masked by an underactive thyroid. Her scans revealed a 4.8cm front right temporal tumour.

After a week in hospital we are preparing to bring mum home. The neurologist within her Multi-Disciplinary Team has suggested that “she is not for surgery” and we are awaiting the oncologists suggestions for ongoing treatment. Mum has responded really well to steroids and can now walk with the aid of a stick, has a healthy appetite and is less confused.

We have yet to speak to the oncologist who has not been in contact and therefore suppose we have two questions for the forum:

- How long can mum keep taking steroids to alleviate the symptoms that will inevitably develop with the tumour? 

- Will cancer treatment, if it is feasible, reduce mum’s quality if life? 

We are determined to make her last months as enjoyable as possible. Plenty of lunches out and today a trip in my wife’s cabriolet!  Mum’s personality has changed and in some respects she is almost childlike in her appreciation of small favours.

We know it’s going to be a difficult time, but want to thank you for the support reading the forum has already given us.

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