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My marvellous Mam and her glioblastoma

Redpath
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My mum has just been diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma.

She is due to start radiotherapy on 2nd July, it was originally discovered following a bleed on the brain end of February. 

I am worried about the time that has lapsed as untreated it can cause death in 3 months.  She is on steroids and anti seizure drugs. I can see her deteriating and feel so helpless. 

She has had to wait for bleed to absorb, then biopsy was done, then wait for results, then mask and scans to be done then the planning for her treatment. 

I am a recently became a single parent to 3 after having our 3rd child, I have been made redundant and have a mortgage to pay. The financial impact is incredible but I will be there for her.

good luck to anyone who is going through this battle.

 

 

  • Welcome to the forum Redpath.

    I'm sorry to read about your mum's diagnosis as well as the difficulties you're facing in your personal life at the moment and would like you to know that we are here for you.

    It can be tough waiting for treatment, sometimes more so for the family and friends supporting the person that has been diagnosed, as many of our members here have found out and hopefully some of them will be along soon to offer their support and advice. I know you've connected with one member on the forum already but I just wanted to share this discussion with you in case you wanted to chat with more members who are in the same situation. 

    Do keep us updated when you can Redpath, we'll be thinking of you and wishing your mum all the best for the start of her radiotherapy treatment next month.

    Kind regards, 

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator 

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    Hi Redpath,

    Really sorry to hear this about your mum, and also about your current life situation.  My cancer is different to your mum's but I have a friend that was diagnosed with a glioblastoma nearly two decades ago (she was late 20s then).  I don't want to give you false hope in any way, and I don't know her grade or anything, but I know she was expected to die within 4-6 months, was ineligible for a lot of standard and radical treatments because of the location of her tumour, and yet nearly two decades on she is alive and living life, still with her tumour there having somehow stopped growing.  She was told her tumour would grow if she got pregnant but has since had two children and it hasn't changed.  

    Others are not so lucky obviously, but it just goes to show how much we still have to learn about glioblastomata.

    So please don't worry yourself wondering 'what if'. Much as it's difficult try and busy yourself with practicalities and wait for the detail when it comes.

    Given your new financial position I would strongly suggest you look into what charity and council facilities are available in your mum's area so that you bear as little a financial burden as possible. If you can be recognised as your mum's main carer then there could be financial assistance available to you (and also to your mum of course). I know it isn't about the money and I know you will do what you can for your mum regardless, but there is help out there so find it and take it. It's all about knowing who to speak to and getting professionals to complete the various forms for you, it's a pain but worth it in the long run.

    One place I can think of is Prince's Royal Trust for Carers, I temped for them and we used to help people complete forms that got them some financial help from local government as the designated carer. So phone your council, maybe even Citizens Advice Bureau, local and national cancer charities etc. and ask what financial help is available for carers. The more security you and your children have the more help you will be to your mum.

    Wishing you all the best with your mum's fight and your own fight. Please do ask for help and accept it.

    LJx

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