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Wednesday, September 14, 2005

a semi-related brain issue

A funny thing happened while I was researching "The Mommy Brain." About three months into the project, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I had a strange series of headaches and insisted on getting an MRI. Looking at the slides in my car afterwards, I realized I'd looked at enough pictures of brains to know the pingpong-shaped white object on the left side didn't belong there.
The tumor I have is called a meningioma, which is an additional irony, since it's a truly Mommy-brain malady. Meningiomas are similar to fibroid tumors of the uterus, and respond to female reproductive hormones. Sometimes they grow during pregnancy. By the way, a great website for support and information is
Meningioma Mommas.
I do feel tremendously blessed, because my tumor is benign and operable -- I'm having surgery on Sept. 28. On the other hand, a saw is a saw!
I thought a long time before blogging about this because it didn't seem that relevant, but in many ways it is becoming moreso. For one thing, in addition to all the other brain changes involved with being a mother, I am passionately interested in the type of learning that comes through understanding of the fleetingness of life -- and you of course can get that understanding just as easily from having cancer as well as having children. For another, this experience is drawing me even closer to my family, as we've contemplated issues like how much to tell the kids, and how, and how we'll all inevitably be changed-- maybe even for the better. (With my 7-year-old son, I've called the problem "a walnut" -- not sure why, and was sorry belatedly that I've probably ruined his affinity for a truly healthy food. The other day he asked, "Mommy, will you still remember me after the walnut comes out?" In a flash of inspiration, I drew him a picture of a brain divided into sections, with spaces designated for him and his brother and my husband, for extraneous stuff and for work. I put the walnut in the "work" space.)
Besides all this, I want to give this excuse in advance for probably not blogging much in October, when I plan to lie around a lot and not do any dishes or driving.
My goal is to get back to writing and speaking by early November. And I'll try to get some post-op information on this site before then.

6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

kathy,I enjoy reading your blog-don't usually reply but had to on this one. If you recall I wrote you just after your book came out.Very happy to find something that spoke so clearly of a subject so complex. Anyway am so glad your tumor is operable-my mother , had a brain tumor but it was not treatable.It was then that the concept of motherhood took on a new meaning-as we then mothered her as she had us. My point being Am very happy for you that yours can be treated and that you shared that . Clearly you are destined to write more wonderful books, which I look forward to reading! karen

5:48 PM  
Blogger ripplit said...

Best wishes on your upcoming surgery from another N Cal meningioma momma.

2:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hope that everything turned out fine. I was doing research on tumor growth and pregnancy and came across your blog. In May of 2003 I was dianoised with a Pilocystic Astrocytoma while pregnant with my son. I was 22 at the time. I had my surgery and they couldn't remove all of the tumor with it being on the brain stem. I was 25 week pregnant the day they did the surgery. So my NS told me at my last check up that we can try again and that we would monitor my tumor through Mri's and see if their is growth. I want to wish you the best and know that recovering will take a while so do get frustrated. I still have symptoms because my tumor is still there. But I look back and I can see how I was after the surgery and how I am now and the best advice I can give you is let as many people help you and don't feel rushed to get better. Feel free to contact me if you want at bjs_mama03@suddenlink.net.

Jenniffer Cox

2:37 PM  
Anonymous Cheryl said...

I was diagnosed after being at work and talking to someone on the phone, working on computer at the same time, when, my vision went out in my right eye, slurred speech/aphasia soon developed and I felt awful. I was able to hit my redial button on my cell phone twice and was able to make sense enough to him that something was wrong. Was taken to hospital, had had a seizure and diagnosed with a meningioma of the left front lobe. This is very scary. My heart goes out to all you. It is being monitored right now, however, I have symptoms to live with until they figure out when would be a good time to take it out. Does anyone know what I should do about obtaining disability? I am having difficulty working, etc.

9:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Also, I have had Thyroid cancer, not sure if there is a relation between the two. My understanding is that with a meningioma, the doctors cannot make a definite diagnosis until a biopsy is performed.

9:52 PM  
Blogger Kathy said...

Cheryl, my thoughts are with you!
On disability, please ask your doctor about this as he/she will have some ideas -- there ought to be someone at the hospital/doc office who can guide you. But a great Internet resource is Meningioma Mamas, which really helped me understand a lot of issues.
I wish you so much health and luck.
Best,
Kathy

9:34 AM  

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