Always get a second opinion

2 years ago I went to a local (small town) doctor to see what the bump on the top of my head was. I had an ultrasound done and met with this so called “great” doctor to review the findings. I left his office feeling stupid. He revealed that it was nothing and to carry on as usual. After informing all my family and friends of this knot on my head, they were just as concerned as I was. Having to tell them now that it’s nothing was a bit embarrassing. Maybe I don’t know my body as well as I thought I had. Wow, they’re all going to laugh at me. Well, after the embarrassment of informing everyone my immediate family insisted I get a second opinion. After what I had just been through I delayed the second opinion for 2 years.

This time I went to a different doctor and they referred me to a specialist in the big city for evaluation. I was diagnosed with a meningioma brain tumor in January 2018. The surgeon thinks it’s been there for at least 10 years and has already made it’s own ways around my veins and my body has slowly adapted to it. I currently have no symptoms so no need for surgery yet. I go back for an MRI in July to compare it to the ones in April so they can see how aggressive it is. So glad I went for the second opinion and so thankful for doing more research and thirdly checking in with MD Anderson in Houston.

The team I met with there was amazing and so caring. As long as my scan in July comes back as a positive one I won’t have to go back until January 2019 to reevaluate my case. My tumor has invaded both veins and the bone and if I were to have it removed it would cause more complications. So thankful I met with this team… Patiently living with a knot on my head and loving every minute of it!

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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.