Feeling utterly helpless

Hi, my mum (early 60s) has been diagnosed with glioblastoma on her right side of her brain spreading to her corpus callosum. Surgery was considered too risky so we choose radiotherapy and chemo.

However, the oncologist is now saying he thinks radiotherapy will do more harm than good. Her mobility and memory has already been affected and needs day to day support. She is on the maximum steroid amount. Any advice what else can we try? Feel utterly helpless and don’t want to simply do nothing, they’ve given her 3/4 months…we only found out 6 weeks ago.

[Tansi75]

Hi Hollyuhoh

I'm sorry to read about your mum and your families situation.

I was diagnosed with a grade 4 GBM in my right temporal lobe in May 2010. If you go to the Brain Tumour Charity's website, you will find a lot of useful information, especially about clinical trials, which might be worth checking out.

Also, if you download the charity's BRIAN APP, and have a look at the discussion board, you will find a series of posts I have placed regarding the alternative treatments I have used and the importance of diet. Have you reduced your mum's sugar intake, which feeds cancer cells? If you have been told she can have anything to eat and drink, please ignore it and concentrate on a healthy diet, including blueberries, pecan nuts and turmeric spice, which have anti-cancer properties.

The other useful thing you can do, is make sure your mum drinks plenty of water when taking any medication, such as a pint of water. This will enable any tablets to be absorbed into the body quicker.

Most of all, I know this is a difficult time for you all right now, but stay positive and concentrate on living and enjoying your lives together for however long that may be. Try to laugh as much as possible, which is after all, a great healer.

Wishing you all the very best for a positive outcome and future together. 🙂

[Cranesbill]

Hello. I’m truly so sorry that you are going through this. My Dad was diagnosed back in June 2021 and it hurts like hell to watch your parent go through this. My Dad is still here and fighting every day. I don’t have any medical advice as Dad was lucky to have a craniotomy and we’re on a different path than you. But one thing I have learnt is to take every day as it comes and don’t think too far ahead. Do some lovely things together if you can. We go for lots of walks, afternoon tea, even a visit to the pub for a pint every now and again. Every day is so precious. Thinking of you and your Mum.

Take care

[BeLoveAndHope in reply to Cranesbill]

Hello Cranesbill, Thank you for sharing .... very encouraging ... I was diagnosed a year ago, had a craniotomy, radiation and chemo for 4 months. Since January I have only taken a med for seizures. I'd love to know what you are doing that feels beneficial. Thank you!!

[Cranesbill in reply to BeLoveAndHope]

Hello there. Dad has my Mum and myself to keep him fit and well as best we can. After that awful initial diagnosis and having the worst case scenarios given to us, Dad and I decided that we would do everything we could to make him happy for as long as we could. Thankfully, he didn’t really suffer too much with the treatments and so it was easier to stay positive and focused on doing nice things together as a family. He’s even started to go for walks to visit friends further afield and he loves to be out in the fresh air and go fishing every week. He has a scan in a couple of weeks and that will be a year since the TMZ finished and 27 months since diagnosis. We pray that the tumour is still stable and he can continue to enjoy life. So, keep positive and look after yourself. Wishing you all the best.

[BeLoveAndHope]

Bless you! I'm so glad to hear this, and wonderful that he enjoys getting out. Is he doing other things like Keto diet or other non-traditional remedies? I'll be curious how the scan goes... Hopefully it will be positive. Sending healing energy.