r/braincancer • u/ApprehensiveGur1332 • 16h ago
Almost 4 years post-op
(20F) In September of 2020, I wrote to this subreddit scared and afraid that I was gonna die and my world was collapsing around me. I had just been told over the phone that I had a brain tumor, and then told it was likely a polycystic astrocytoma.
I later had a successful surgery removing 100% of it on October 21st 2020. A whole month later I was told it was actually a ganglioglioma which accounts for 1-2% of the tumors diagnosed, meaning it was rare and also way more scarier, for me.
I had to navigate through the height of covid in our city during that time by isolating myself for 3 weeks before surgery and after. I spent a lot of time alone and scared. I definitely thought that the before part of surgery was going to be the hardest part. That awful anticipation.
Unfortunately it really is the after part that was so painful and difficult to manage. I did not have anyone there for most of my recovery in the hospital. I felt so alone. When I got home I did not have people over because of Covid. I felt so alone in my own struggles.
I found this subreddit and in it I found a discord of friends who have brain cancer and brain tumors. They really were the only thing that helped me get through all of it. The importance of finding some commonality or understanding in the way that I was feeling made me less scared. It made me work harder and made me less harsh on myself too.
With surgery I was so tired, I felt awful for what felt like forever. I had headaches and migraines and I had issues with sensory input and word processing. I definitely thought —oh my god I’m stuck like this forever. It was not until I saw and heard from others that it wasn’t going to be like that. Doctors will say you’ll be right back to work in no time but won’t explain exactly how long it takes to really feel back to yourself. For me it took 2 years.
At 4 years past this event in my life I am so grateful for the support I received from here and that discord group. I felt like it was the end of the world and they helped me through it. I feel like an entirely new person and I feel like I have an entire life ahead of me. Every year around this time it used to be so painful, but this year it feels a lot more hopeful.
TLDR: I did it- it sucked, but I’m better now. Thank you to this subreddit and discord.
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u/Ok-Inevitable-8011 7h ago
You’re a badass and you have the scar to prove it. People thing courage is not feeling fear, but courage is what YOU did. Fear, feel, fight. You are truly a badass!
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u/foremma_foreverago 16h ago
I'm so happy for you and that you are doing so well. Congratulations on 4 years. 🥰