My name is Lydia. I’m 44. I went through an awful time before COVID, where I knew I didn’t feel right. I was back and forth to the doctors. Finally, they sent me to the hospital for an MRI, and they instantly told me they’d seen something on my scan. It was a tumour, and I also had epilepsy. (My son had found me on the floor one time. He was only just 7 years old, bless him.)
I was a teacher at a school for children with additional needs, and I had to resign due to ill health.
The tumour is an oligodendroglioma….best one to have apparently, although I didn’t think so.
I was diagnosed in June 2021. I underwent surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. I felt sickly, and my hands were always freezing.
Separated from my unsupportive husband — his loss!
Anyway, my scans were increased to every six months. The first scan I had after the 6 months was on February 6, 2025. I agreed to have another surgery to try to remove it. They got me in and performed another craniotomy. It led to an awful two weeks thinking I’d got my life back.
Bit of a disappointment though because miscommunication by the staff told me the FULL TUMOUR had been removed. We couldn’t believe it!
Well, it hadn’t; it was just the area that had regrown that had been removed. Obviously, I voiced my opinions with a lot of crying, swearing, and fist banging. They knew I was upset, frustrated, and angry that it had taken them two weeks to tell me. I’d organised a party to celebrate, which was cancelled.
I’ve not really gotten my head around it all, so I reached out for help. I’m doing some talking therapy at a local cancer charity, which I think will help.
I’ve decided that I’m pretty much back where I was in January — with the same tumour in the same place. And that’s my journey so far!
It’s like a roller coaster…when it’s good, it’s amazing, but the whole situation is so wrong, and that’s the downside.
