am i a candidate for brain surgery? i have a benign tumor

sparkations · New User Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Posts: 3

Hi there, here's my story:

I was diagnosed with epilepsy 2 years ago at the age of 20 when I had my first grand mal seizure. I woke up from my seizure to find these red spots on my face-burst capillaries. I noticed around my mid teens that I would get these weird sensations where I would just blank out for seconds. This didn't happen too often-and now I realize they were petit mal seizures.

I was hospitalized and they did CT scans and MRIs. My neurologist told me that I had a benign brain tumor. They don't know what it is though-it could be a meningioma, astrocytoma, glioma-it is located in my right temporal lobe near my ear, and its in the medial right temporal lobe. Since I get burst capillaries-is it possible that I have an astrocytoma? My neurologist said that it is probably a congenital brain tumor that I've had since I was in my mother's womb.

Since my diagnosis, I've experienced sleeping problems due to nocturia and urinary retention problems. My neurologist told me that it is possible that the tumor is located in a location that is acting on my spinal cord somehow to cause these urinary retention problems, seeming as how those with neurological disorders such as parkinsons and multiple scelorosis also experience the same urinary problems.

I've been put on anticholinergics to relax my bladder, but they haven't helped. I've been put on anti diuretic hormone, but it hasn't helped. I've also been getting a lot of urinary tract infections-which could be because of my urinary retention.

Another thing is that I've been experiencing chronic social anxiety symptoms all my life. I don't know if that's related to the tumor.

Anyway, its not the seizures that bother me, its the urinary problems that bother me because I have to wake up several times a night to urinate-every 2-3 hours. This has gone on for the past few months. Previously, For the past 2 years since my diagnosis, I would wake up every 5 hours to urinate.

My seizures are well controlled, but my urinary problems won't go away. I was just wondering whether I am considered a candidate for surgery.

brainman

Hi spakations, I am very sorry about your health concerns. I have a number of questions. Have they done a biopsy in order to diagnose the tumor or are they only going by the MRI and CT scans? A biopsy is the only way they can know for sure what that "tumor" really is. If they did not do a biopsy, you should ask about one. There might be other factors that do not allow them to do the biopsy.

Have you seen a urologist about the urinary retention problems? I suspect that the two things are not related. I know that a tumor in the brain can affect any bodily function. Nevertheless, I would rule out something urological before considering brain surgery.

Keep us informed.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

sparkations · New User Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Posts: 3

They haven't done a biopsy, i think its because they don't think its necessary.

I do see a urologist. I've been put on meds, but they haven't worked so far. My neurologist said that the tumor could possibly be causing the urinary retention.

brainman

sparkations, the fact that they have not done a biopsy IS worrisome to me. There is no way for them to know for sure what it is without a biopsy. That is that bad news. The good news is that even if it is a glioma, gliomas do not metastasize. Depending on their grade, they can grow rapidly. If you start to have more seizures or problems with vision or hearing you should go back to your doctors ASAP and ask for a biopsy. In my personal opinion, the fact that the neurologist thinks the tumor is causing your urinary retention problems is good enough reason to do a biopsy. Are you at a major medical center? If not, ask for a referral.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

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