Don’t Let Life Get You Down

Don’t Let Life Get You Down

Melissa

I was 13 years old when I was diagnosed with a malignant ganglioma. Funny thing though, I didn’t let it stop me from trying to be a normal kid. My tumor is located on my brain stem so not all of it could be removed and because of where it is, Chemo and radiation would do nothing to shrink the tumor. I also have a shunt that was placed just weeks after the tumor removal and I have had 2 shunt revisions since then. I was told that when they did the biopsy of the tumor, they suspect that I was born with it. I now have parts of my skull missing and a button on my head. I was told that I would never be able to do a lot of things because of my tumor, but I have never let it stop me. My cancer is contained within my tumor and will not spread.

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