Our daughter Cheryl was 24 years old and had been married only one year when she began having headaches and dizzy spells. Our family noticed she seemed distracted when we were talking to her, as if she did not hear us. Because Cheryl has epilepsy I suggested she go to her neurologist for a check up.

Cheryl’s neurologist scheduled an MRI. The news was not good. The MRI showed a six-centimeter acoustic neuroma brain tumor. We were devastated. The neurosurgeon described the possible risks and permanent disabilities Cheryl might be left with following surgery, which included losing the hearing in her right ear, nerve damage to the right side of her face, possible blindness in her right eye, and a permanent speech impediment. The more the doctor talked, the more frightened we became.

However, the surgery was a success, and Cheryl and her husband Douglas just celebrated, with their two children, their 17th wedding anniversary. Cheryl did lose the hearing in her right ear, and she does have nerve damage to the right side of her face. She must keep drops in her right eye as the tear ducts do not function, but most people who see her do not notice the nerve damage. However, to our dismay, the tumor had nothing to do with her seizures, so Cheryl does still live with epilepsy.

As shocked as we were by Cheryl’s diagnosis nothing could have prepared us for what was to come next. On Christmas day in 1996, our son Tom collapsed on the kitchen floor while preparing breakfast. He was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with a oligodendroglioma/ astrocytoma brain tumor in the right frontal lobe. The neurosurgeon did not think surgery was in order due to the size and location of the tumor, but advised radiation as soon as possible to stop any further growth and hopefully shrink the tumor. Tom went through a nine-week series of radiation. He was tired, but his seizures seemed to subside. He eventually moved home with us while his body recovered from the fatigue brought on by radiation and adjusted to the anti-seizure medicine.

In the meantime I had been given the name of the head of neurosurgery at a major hospital and advised to take Tom for a second opinion. The doctor felt for the time being that Tom’s condition was stable, but that he could safely perform surgery if the tumor should grow or change.

Then the unthinkable happened. Michelle, our youngest daughter, asked me to go with her to the emergency room one night as she was having a terrible headache and racing heart beat. When I mentioned to the emergency room doctor that Michelle’s two siblings had been diagnosed with brain tumors, she immediately ordered a CT scan. Michelle and I anxiously waited for the results. As soon as I saw the look on the doctor’s face, I knew what she was going to say. Michelle had a brain tumor. We sat numbly, unable to speak. Michelle was diagnosed with an anaplastic astrocytoma in the left frontal lobe.

We scheduled a visit with the neurosurgeon who had seen our son. If there is an upside to this story it is that we had instant cooperation from all of the doctors involved with our family. The neurosurgeon felt he could safely remove all of Michelle’s tumor with little risk of permanent deficits. Michelle also had a 12-week series of radiation therapy. Six years later, she and her family are enjoying a full life. Her husband and children express often how grateful they are to have her with them.

As Michelle healed, Tom’s seizures worsened and he required surgery. It was a success, and four years later, Tom is able to live on his own. He says he is grateful to still be around to see his children grow and be a part of their lives.

We have not found a specific cause for the tumors in three of our children. We were involved in a genetic research program for families with multiple primary brain tumors, but the research showed nothing remarkable. We will continue to look for ongoing research to be involved with, in the hope it may help to save lives of others, and our own grandchildren, through early detection and treatment.

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