Can't get my head around what's happening

1 minute read time.

Came back from uni almost a month ago to visit the family and no one was home. Turned out my dad had been taken in for tests as they believed he'd had a stroke but once they did a ct scan they found out that actually he had a tumour on his brain. We all tried to remain positive,  he's young (only 49!!) and generally a very healthy man, but from then on everytime we went back to the hospital the news got worse. 

First of all he was told it was inoperable due to the high risk of having a massive stroke as it was so deep in the brain (it's in the parietal/occipital lobe so was also seriously effecting his navigation, ability to use his left side of his body and also his peripheral vision). The next time he went to the hospital was for biopsy results which showed that it was a grade 4 glioblastoma, can't be operated on, can't be cured. How does this happen to an otherwise perfectly healthy man, who doesn't have a bad bone in his body and has always helped others? It doesn't seem fair to him that he has this horrible disease and doesn't really have a chance of fighting back, we've been told an average life expectancy with this type of tumour is 2 years. 

He's having tests on Monday to see if he is okay for a clinical trial for Avastin (I think that's what it was) alongside chemo and radiotherapy so if anyone has any experience either themselves or a family member with any of this treatment any advice on what to expect would be appreciated. I want to be able to help him as much as possible, it's really hard for him to have no control over what's going on in his life (which hasn't been helped by the fact he's now not allowed to drive, our roles have been reversed and now it's daughters taxi rather than dads taxi!) and I just want to be able to make him feel a little better in any way. 

Anonymous
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember
    Hello o magick, I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. It's an emotional and testing time for the family when a loved one is diagnosed with cancer. Life can seem very unfair when we all try to be kind and helpful then this happens. It is natural to feel 'why me, why us'. I felt just the same when I was diagnosed. If you click on the 'groups' at the top of the page, there is a brain tumour group, and then a sub group for Glioblastoma. If you join this group there will be others who can answer your questions and give you support. I send you strength for coming weeks hun. Stay strong, we all fight this heinous disease together xxx
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    I understand how you feel my husband is 65 and he has just been diagnosed with the same disease.  He is also a fit and healthy man who has always helped others.  He does not smoke and only has the odd drink.  He has had a good resection and like your Dad is about to start chemo and radiotherapy and trials on Avastin. I am now our taxi driver.  Like you I would welcome any help on this awful illness. Derek has been given a prognosis of 14 months. Our lives like yours have been turned upside down. Think we all have to try and support one another.