meningioma

Hi - I;m new to this - My brother (64) has just been diagnosed with meningioma after losing his beloved wife to lung cancer only a couple of months ago.  He is starting on steriods and is having an op in a few weeks.  Can anyone give me any advice/help?  I;ve been reading up on it and it also says you are more likely to develop a growth if your brother or sister have had it!!!  Not sure what causes are either.......thanks.....

  • Welcome to the forum gemsgirl52 although I'm sorry for the reason it has brought you here.

    I'm so sorry to hear about your brother's situation; I can't imagine what he is going through at the moment but it's great that he has such a wonderful sister who is doing all she can to support him at this difficult time. I know you've been doing some research already but I have found some information on our website about the possible causes of brain tumours that may help answer a few of your questions. Also, here is some more information about the treatment process as well if you would like to know more a little bit more about what your brother will be having done when he has his operation.

    I know there is quite a bit of information to work through there so if there is anything that you may not be sure of you can always chat to our cancer nurses. If you're in the UK you can call them for free on 0808 800 4040 and they are available Monday - Friday between 9a.m-5p.m.

    Do let us know how your brother's operation goes in a few weeks time. We'll be thinking of you. 

    Best Wishes,

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator 

  • Thank you Steph.  He is seeing the consultant today so I'm waiting to hear what's going to happen next.  The problem is he's in Belfast and I'm in Preston, so difficult to actually be there for him, although his children are there as much as they can be.  I've read the information, but it doesn't actually tell me what I want to know, although it is very informative.  It's all very worrying, given that his wife was being treated for a trapped nerve in her back since September last year, and only when she could not physically get out of bed and the pressures put on her GP by her family, did she eventually get a scan in March this year, which showed up first degree lung cancer, which had spread to her liver and she had a massive tumour on her spine.  She only lasted 6 weeks after that, with no treatment.  I went to see her the week before she passed in a Hospice and was absolutely devastated at how she looked.  I just felt she was being left to die as she stopped eating and drinking. 

     

    No doubt my poor brother is thinking the worst, but at least he has been diagnosed.

    Thanks for your thoughts.

  • Hi,well for years I've been getting treatment for m.s.as I went to physio last week ,to say my symptoms are really painful now.e.g..pains in my groin area my right leg,knee,my right side seems different,to what it usual for me, anyway I had an mri scan last Friday ,Monday gets a phone call to go for a brain scan as they seen something on scan that they wasn't even looking for.so I goes Tuesday for brain scan ,comes home to receive yet another phone call,on Tuesday .I have a brain tumour,that's the way I was told. and I won't know until tomorrow tea time what they are planning to do I'm a lady 62years young .now oramorph.is helping with my pain.I feel like I'm in limbo .

  • Hi,well for years I've been getting treatment for m.s.as I went to physio last week ,to say my symptoms are really painful now.e.g..pains in my groin area my right leg,knee,my right side seems different,to what it usual for me, anyway I had an mri scan last Friday ,Monday gets a phone call to go for a brain scan as they seen something on scan that they wasn't even looking for.so I goes Tuesday for brain scan ,comes home to receive yet another phone call,on Tuesday .I have a brain tumour,that's the way I was told. and I won't know until tomorrow tea time what they are planning to do I'm a lady 62years young .now oramorph.is helping with my pain.I feel like I'm in limbo .

  • Oh I'm so sorry to hear that. You must be very worried. You must try to be positive (easy for me to say). I haven't posted since August as things have moved on quite a bit. My brother went in first to have the blood supply to the tumour clamped. Then the following day he had the tumour removed. He was in hospital ONLY 9 days and is at home recovering. He has since had the news that the surgeon managed to remove ALL the tumour and he has the all clear! It's amazing. It is also like I have a different brother......his outlook on life seems to have changed, but maybe that's just because he's glad to be here! He's looking forward to taking up old hobbies when he can.....photography and fishing. At the minute he can't drive, so that's a bit frustrating, but everything is great. Hopefully by now you will have heard what will happen. Be strong and feel free to post again if it helps. I'm sure everyone on this site is keeping fingers crossed for you.  Good news is the family recently did a twilight walk and raised £800 for Macmillan.  Fantastic!