Hi lost my husband a few months ago to stage 4 Glioblastoma's and my world fell apart.
I’m really struggling to come to terms with the whole personality change in him after his biopsy.
He was a caring loving husband who treated me like a queen. But after the biopsy he was definitely not the same man I almost felt like he didn’t care/like me anymore.
my question is has anyone else felt like this? Was it a normal side effect of the operation.
miss him so much
Welcome to our online community and thanks for reaching out to us. My name is Amy and I am one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.
We are deeply sorry to hear about your husband’s death.
Trying to adjust to day to day living without your loved one can feel like an impossible task. This can be especially hard when there had been such big personality and behaviour changes like the ones you describe. Sadly, this is a common symptom of brain tumours and there are many different causes too – it may be due to swelling, the tumour itself (depending on its location), medication and/ or treatment. This makes tricky to say whether it was definitely the biopsy that caused these changes or maybe, more likely, a combination of factors.
The Brain Tumour Charity has a range of bereavement resources you may find useful to look through. We also have information about loss and bereavement as does Maggie’s. And The Loss Foundation are the UK’s only charity offering specialist bereavement support after a cancer loss. You may find their ‘I have difficult memories’ and ‘I’m struggling with grief’ information and videos particularly useful.
Sometimes with the support of friends and family, and as time passes it can feel a little more manageable but for others, they may need more specialist help through the GP and clinical psychology or counselling. It would be helpful to explore how you are feeling with the GP and what support they can offer.
We often find we can help more by exploring these questions over the phone. If this is something you think would help, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch via our support line on 0808 808 0000. We are available 7 days a week, 8am-8pm.
I hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Amy C, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist
You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.
Ref: AC/SH
