George Plym...   The  Ultimate   BRAIN       TUMOR Survivor!

    Another big hump....and another,

and another, and another......

 

   2/7/10 UPDATE!!

 

     I had a lot of e-mails concerning whether I was still alive or not! Well, I'm still hanging in there!

 

     In January ‘10, I had a routine MRI at Wake Forest University Comprehensive Cancer Center. The MRI showed that there was a new growth in a different area of the brain this time. It is believed to be a meningioma and not an oligo/astrocytoma. Ain't I lucky!? Seriously... if you are going to have a brain tumor, you would rather have it be a meningioma other than a glioma!

 

     There are no good brain tumors, but as far as treatment and prognosis, I would rather take my chances with a meningioma. The doctors feel the meningioma has been caused by all of the radiation that has bombarded my brain. They are called "radiation induced lesions." I call it something else! Right now, we are in a holding pattern. We will not do anything at this time except watch it and see how fast it grows, it grows at all. I was a little bit bummed out about it when I got the news. But just like only other times, I have put my self into that "I will not die from a brain tumor" mode! It is time to fight again.

 

     Later in the year towards December ’10 I had another MRI to see how much the tumor has grown. Well, it has hardly grown at all! I love to hear those words, “stable!” So we will check it again in six more months. I do seem to have some more difficulties with balance and coordination. It is believed that the radiation has cause most of the problems recently. A year ago, I fell and broke my shoulder and had to have surgery, and right after Christmas, I had another bad fall and broke a rib and did some extensive damage to the cartilage. It was kind of scary because I am on blood thinners and were I hit the ground, it was very close to where my heart filter was located.

 

     So basically, I’m doing very well! Still fighting…. Fighting makes you stronger. I highly recommend it to all of my brain tumor buddies! God bless....

 

 

   Calm before the storm...

 

   2011 and 12

 

     It seemed like everything had settled down. No major issues 2007 to 2012 have been basically un-eventful. I even thought that I was over the hump, and even had hopes that I finally beat this disease. I would never say that, but I sure thought it! I was feeling better, being more active and was having a better social life than I have had for a long time. Picked up photography again after many years and did a lot of small hikes. I felt confident driving and really thought that I was becoming normal again. I have posted one time that it seems like every time I think that I'm doing well, I sprung a leak in the boat.  It's not a small leak this time... I'm going down fast!!  

 

 

   Tumors #12 and #13 and much, much, more in 2013 and 2014  

 

          The big four.... Brain, skin, thyroid and bone cancerIn

 

     After years of clear MRI is except for a couple meningiomas that we have

been watching, I was doing very well. My biggest complaint was the skin on

the left side of my head was very irritated. A burning sensation somewhat

like a second-degree burn. I knew that previously a biopsy determined that

the diagnosis was adenocarcinoma. I had a PET scanof my whole body, just

like 2005. But the results were totally different. This time, it showed cancer all

over my body. Brain cancer was back. It was a recurrence of the oligodendroglioma

plus as a bonus, the meningioma was a little bit bigger. Before we had to do anything

about the tumors, it was more important to see if we could stop this cancer

which has invaded my body. Time for more surgery!

 

   First was the for thyroid/neck Carcinoma Cancer Surgery... 8/2/2013

 

 

     After having surgery to remove my thyroid in 2005, The recent biopsy also showed a recurrence in my 

neck, also carcinoma cancer. My surgeon on that was Dr. Browne at Wake Forest said that he would cut a 2 to 3 inch incision and thought that everything will go well. It ended up being much worse once he got in there. That 2 to 3 inch ended up more like 7 to 8 inch incision and he had to cut out 36 lymph nodes. I think that this procedure was more painful than open surgery, because previous radiation over the years, things just won't heal and I have pain when I turn my head, look up, look down, lay down, stand up, raise my arms, picking up anything heavier than a can of soup.....

     Well, you get the idea. I think that it is the combination from a neck surgery along with multiple brain tumor surgery. The skin from being cut and re-sewed so many times, the head and neck has no more elasticity and instead of stretching from one side to the other when I look, it just           breaks and bleeds.

 

                                                                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Now we get back to brain tumor stuff...

 

   Gamma knife surgery   10/3/2013

 

     The neck surgery went well but will take a long time to heal.

But I don't have time to heal. Oligodendroglioma is the next on

our priority list. Again, the gamma knife surgery will be used.

Dr. Tatter installed the frame and then sent me over to MRI to

set up the coordinates for the procedure. There was some

concern that the tumor was very close to the optic nerve,

but with precise calculations And the skill of Dr. Chan, the

gamma knife surgery went perfectly. And not only did the team

get the oligodendroglioma, they treated the meningioma that

had been lurking around in my brain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

    NM THYROID METS SURVEY (W/B) W/THYROGEN... Nov 20, 2013

 

 

     It was thought that the primary cancer other than the oligodendroglioma (which is a primary

brain tumor) was the thyroid cancer. I went through a series of tests and treatments. It cancer

called carcinoma and has now spread or metastasized into the bones. My cancer is called a

"Primary unknown" cancer, meaning that the pathologist cannot with certainty know where

the cancer started. We were hoping that the primary cancer was from a thyroid. Thyroid cancer

is primarily treated by surgery, but sometimes radioactive iodine is recommended as a

complimentary treatment to eliminate any residual thyroid (or thyroid cancer) cells that may

have been left behind by surgery. The thyroid absorbs almost all iodine     that enters a body.

Therefore, a type of radiation treatment called radioactive iodine (also called I-123) is given as

a way to find and destroy any remaining thyroid or thyroid cancer cells. We hope that this

procedure would eliminate the cancer, but it hasn't. Now the chances are that the thyroid was

not the primary cancer. Were still look looking...

 

 

 

 

 

   Radiation prolong my life.......or maybe not.?

     

     Although the gamma knife frame installation is very painful, it doesn't last more than 5 to 7 seconds per pin site, but the radiation damage and consequently skin cancer is very painful and doesn't go away. I have had whole brain cobalt radiation in 1967, and a focus radiation in 2005. The side effects did not occur until about 40 years later. It started as a very small, like a blunt pencil point under the skin of my scalp in the surgical area on my left side. The doctors assured me that it was nothing to be concerned about. It grew very slow and I could feel three or four smaller ones in the same area. It was getting more tender and those areas. Not paying at the time, just tender to the touch. I was persistent with the doctors and finally, Dr. Shaw ordered a biopsy, mainly to appease me I think. I got a phone call from the pathologist. He said that after reviewing the biopsy, as I had cancer. Specifically, adenocarcinoma. There was no treatment needed at the time. A pet scan did not show any cancer in my body. Until now. Now they can find it all over my body and we still don't know the primary cancer came from, although I think that it all started in the scalp from the radiation. My radiologist – oncologist agrees. Below is some pictures of the radiated scalp and it's affect:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   12/4/2013   Another biopsy with the same results....

 

 

     I had already been diagnosed with the carcinoma, but they had to verify the cell structure. So they did a biopsy in my hip. Here is the results of that:

     

     The smears are cellular and show a population of

malignant appearing epithelial cells with focal nuclear clearing,

overlap and rare nuclear grooves.

 

     Immunoperoxidase studies show the tumor stains positive for

cytokeratin 7 with focal weak positive staining of rare cells for

TTF-1 (predominately negative staining) and negative staining

for cytokeratin 20, thyroglobulin, calcitonin, PTH, synaptophysin

and PSA. Together with the cytology, these results support the

diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma. 

 

    Basically, it says you have stage IV carcinoma cancer In the bone. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  So we know what it is, we know where it is. How do we treat it? 

 

 

     Okay, we're dealing with brain cancer, thyroid cancer, the skin cancer and now, the bone cancer. The PET scan clearly demonstrated the bone cancer particularly in the spine and pelvis had progressed. All of the boxes have been positive. The bone cancer is the one that scares me. I have heard so many bad things about bone cancer and its outlooks. I have also heard how painful it can be. The prognosis is not very good. One to two years. I made a bet with my oncologist that I would make it at least five more years. He raised one eyebrow and looked at me and said,

 

     "It wouldn't surprise me George. You should have been gone a long time ago but you're still here. No, I will not bet and I really hope that you can."

So, that's the plan. I want to hang on there for at least five more years!

 

     I start chemo in the  January 6, 2014.

 

            Happy   New   year   2014  !

 

    Here we go! Chemotherapy.... Again!

 

   Port Installation

 

      A port (or port-a-cath) is a small medical appliance that is installed beneath the skin. In general, the installation of a port for chemo is considered to be a fairly minor surgical procedure and can be done as an outpatient procedure with local anesthesia and "conscious" sedation. The procedure begins with disinfection and numbing of the area where the port will be placed (typically the upper chest). Then a large needle is inserted into the chest. This needle is then used as a conduit to allow a catheter (which is a small tube) to be threaded into the superior vena cava. This catheter is attached to the port, which will then remain outside of the body. The needle is then removed and the port is in place.

 

     Monday 1/6 I had my first chemo session. I wanted everyone to know that this is not for the brain cancer, but for bone cancer. It has now spread through my spine, pelvis and legs. Chemotherapy is carboplatin and taxol once a week for 3 weeks, one week off=1 cycle, will then repeat again. Monday and Tuesday was uneventful. A little bit weak with a little nausea, but not bad as I thought it would be. By Wednesday, I was feeling very good! I was thinking to myself, this is nothing. But today, 1/9 Thursday, is a different story. Weak and freezing. Even with being under the covers with extra blankets. Shooting pains in my temple to my eyeball, shooting pain in my lower back and legs. I am hoping that those shooting pains are the results of the chemotherapy doing its job, and not aggressive cancer.

 

     Although it was no picnic, I was somewhat looking forward to the next treatment. I think it was because I had no other options left. If it didn't stop it or slow it down, I was going to die. In February, it was time for chemo again. Today drew blood to make sure that I was well enough to go through another cycle. My nurse, Debbie II came back where I was seated ready for the treatment. She informed Diane, my wife who always went with me, that 

neutrophil Were too low for me to have chemo. I was devastated! If I have any chance at all, I have to have this chemo and I actually shed a tear. So disappointed.  Neutrophils are type of mature (developed) white blood cell that is present in the blood. White blood cells help protect the body against diseases and fight infections. Neutrophils are essential in protecting the body against disease and infections by removing and destroying some types of bacteria, wastes, foreign substances, and other cells. I guess I didn't have enough to go into round two.

 

     To raise the level of the neutrophil, they started injecting in the stomach with what is called "Filgrastim" is used to decrease the chance of infection in people who have certain types of cancer and are receiving chemotherapy medications that may decrease the number of neutrophils (a type of blood cell needed to fight infection), in people who are undergoing bone marrow transplants, and in people who have severe chronic neutropenia (condition in which there are a low number of neutrophils in the blood). Filgrastim is also used to prepare the blood for leukapheresis (a treatment in which certain blood cells are removed from the body and then returned to the body following chemotherapy). Filgrastim is in a class of medications called colony-stimulating factors. It works by helping the body make more neutrophils. So I would have chemo on Monday and then get injections on Tuesday

Wednesday Thursday and Friday. So, that was my life for six months. Going to the cancer center nearly every day.

 

     All of the CT scanners were pretty good. They all showed "stable" and as long as it was stable, they did not have to have any more chemo. It doesn't mean that the cancer is gone, just in a holding pattern. That's the way it has been right up to this present time. So in a nutshell, I believe the thyroid issue is no longer a factor, the brain cancer seems to be holding its own and the last MRI showed a decrease in its size. What is there, is dead. Just need time support to dissipate and get out of my body. Past experience Tells us that it takes a couple years for it to be completely gone. The bone is stable although I do get some pain in the bone, especially the shin, the hip and lower back. My shoulders are painful at times as well. It just makes me wonder how much of that is old age creeping up on me? The real issue at this time is the Skin cancer. I have six or seven lesions or tumors behind my ear and all way up to the middle of my head on the left side. They feel like pea sized tumors under the skin and pushes inward causing pain. Dr. Browne feels that it would be better for me to deal with that the best that I can without surgery to remove them. There has been so much damage due to multiple surgeries and radiation that the risk is much higher than just leaving it alone for right now. Works for me! Chances are that the bone cancer will kill me before the skin cancer does. Or like my neurosurgeon, Dr. Branch told me years ago.... "Yeah, and you could get it by a truck going across the street." So with that in mind, I will continue to enjoy every day no matter how many I have left.

 

 

    11/28/2014     

 

     Skin cancer or called adenocarcinoma is causing problems.... Again! (still)

 

     Went to Wake Forest University toward the end of November because of the painful lesions/skin cancer. As you remember, that side of my head has been stomped on times. Dr. Browne did a biopsy on my neck near my ear, fairly close to where he did the surgery where he had cut out 36 lymph nodes. The report came back and really didn't surprise me. It stated  that these findings are consistent with a diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma. The next step is another biopsy more in the center of left parietal area. They just want to make sure what cancers is where. With that information, all of the department heads will figure out if there is any treatment and what will it be. 

 

     Im not a doctor, but stage IV which is in my head, neck, shoulders, spine and pelvis along with all of the other issues, it doesn't sound very promising. I look to the Lord for healing, but no matter what, I know where I'm going and it is comforting...

 

```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````pHapHappy   New   year   2015  !

 

  

    January 5, 2015 

 

 

     Just got the biopsy report from my doctor. Just as I had expected, biopsy did show carcinoma. I had already known that the cancer had metastasize (unknown primary) to thebone. So this biopsy just confirms that the cancer had spread to other areas. It is now spreading into the in the upper part of the neck behind ear and left side temporal area. It is believed that it was caused by radiation, both whole brain radiation and focused radiation starting in 1967. There is no plans & treatment at this time. So after 13 brain tumors in 48years, it looks like a different cancer other than brain cancer will be my demise..... I have commented over the years that, "I refuse to die from from brain cancer."  I feel that I have fought off brain cancer nearly everyday in my life since diagnosed in 1967. I can truly now say,

                                                                 YIPPY!! I WIN!!!! Game over...

 

     I think I have a couple more miles in me......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is it for right now. I will post any new developments. Meanwhile, check out my gallery! Click here