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Why Me? Why Not Me?

Published on August 22, 2025 in Share Your Story

Guest Author: Al C. in New Jersey

In February 2024, I was a healthy-ish male, 58 years old. I was in my second career. I thought the symptoms I had were because I was getting older. Forgetfulness, dizziness, lack of focus. I have had a bloodshot right eye since 2018.

Been to so many eye doctors, specialists, and an eye hospital in Pennsylvania. They even snipped a piece of my eye to test it for cancer. A month later, I went back and no cancer in my eye. But always red.

The week before February 19, 2024, I was at the gym. I just had a feeling of being unwell and noticed a week was on my left side — both arms and legs. I did not finish my workout. A few days later, I went again and had the same thing happen. I thought it was the flu or something.  

On Feb. 18, I went to work, and one of my coworkers noticed my right eye was extremely red. I just brushed it off. I came home around 9 p.m., sat up and was talking to the kids and playing with the dog, and went to bed soon after. At 3 a.m., I had a strange headache in the middle of my brain on the right side. I shrugged it off. I woke up at 9 a.m., and the headache was still there. I had to be at work at 1 p.m. My wife suggested I take Tylenol and call out sick. No way I was taking a sick day. 

But she kept looking at me and asking me what was wrong. I told her I had a headache and I’m now having trouble with my words. She called our primary care provider, and he spoke to me and immediately told me to give the phone back to her. He told her to call 9-1-1, and he thought I was having a stroke. Just like that, I could only speak one word at a time. I can see the letters, numbers, and words, but I couldn’t vocalize any of them.

I was transported to the hospital. A CT scan revealed a mass in my brain. They then transported me to the trauma hospital. They did an MRI and confirmed a mass on the right side of my brain. They scheduled surgery in two days’ time. 

The brain surgery was successful. The team pulled out a walnut-sized tumor. Within 30 minutes after surgery, I was talking like normal. Two days after that, I walked out of the hospital. I found out I had cancer through the hospital portal.

 My family and I met with the surgeon and neurosurgeon. It’s still tough to hear the word cancer…

I went through 30 rounds of radiation and 42 days of chemotherapy. Someone is watching over me. It was the pill form.

I finished up radiation in May 2024. A little while later, daily chemo was done. I had to take chemo five days a month until November 2024.

I have a brain MRI every 2 months. They found a spot where the tumor was removed, so it was monthly MRIs for me.

As of June 2025, my scans are stable. I have read the statistics. It is not good news. I have hope. I have the best support system anyone could ask for. I stay active and go to the gym every other day. A positive attitude goes a long way. I even had energy healing, which got me to a good place mentally. Never give up, never surrender to this crap disease.

So I guess you want to know about my eye. Funny thing….all the doctors say the tumor had nothing to do with my eye issues. My eye is normal color now. I do have a cataract that needs attention. I will cross that bridge in the near future, if I can see the bridge. Thank you for letting me share my story.  I hope you find peace that we can beat this cancer.

TAGGED WITH: glioblastoma


Opinions expressed within this story belong solely to the author and do not reflect the views or opinions of the National Brain Tumor Society.

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