Glioblastoma Multiforme Brain Cancer – Father died 65 years of age

On November 28th, 2015, my father was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme Stage Four Brain Cancer. Most of his life he was very active and healthy so getting this news was a shock to me and my family. His surgery was performed on December 4th, 2015, it was successful removing most of the tumor. However this type of malignant tumor is very aggressive, we were told the survival rate is 6 mths – 2 years.

We were devastated that someone so happy, healthy and vibrant would eventually leave us at a very young age of 65 years. He started his 26 days of radiation from Jan-Feb with no side effects. By April 2015, another MRI was repeated which showed the tumor was 2.5cm, doctors presumed that was left behind from the surgery. By October 2015 his tumor had doubled in size, after doing three courses of Chemotherapy more tumors appeared on another MRI scan. Oncology department had discharged him from their Clinic because treatment wasn’t working. It broke our hearts because we knew nothing was helping, it was just a matter of time.

He eventually started losing movement, co-ordination, speech, thinking etc. It was very very hard seeing my father deteiorate. On his anniversary date November 28th, 2016 he was placed in Hospice Care which doctors gave him a three week life span, however he fought and made it to seven weeks. He died on January 13th, 2017. My entire world was crushed. I never expected in a million years I would lose my father at such a young age. He left my mother, brother, son-in-law and only grand child who may never remember him at such a tender age of 2 1/2. He adored her. All I have is memories, I spent alot of time with him in the last few months but now that he is not here it never seemed like it was enough. It has been three months since his passing and I miss him everyday.

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