The tumour itself was located just inside the skull between the occipital and parietal lobes, on the left side. The cyst seemed to develop "inward" through the lateral ventricle, distending it. It was apparently a slow growing ganglioglioma-type tumour, and could have started developing in my early adolescence (I'm 34 now). There are under 2,000 tumours similar to mine reported annually in the US, about 2% of all brain tumours. IANABS, but I have definitely learned more about it than I ever thought I would...
The only effect that hasn't returned to normal was with my vision. The peripheral vision is about half gone from my right eye. I can still detect movement out there, but couldn't say count the number of fingers you were holding up.
The neurosurgeon (Dr Linda Liau @ UCLA) said that I was initially a candidate for being conscious during surgery to ensure important areas weren't affected, but after they did some more scans, they were able just knock me out and remove it.
It is constantly amazing to me what they can do these days. If this had happened say 30 years ago, I would not have been so lucky with the outcome...
I recently had neurosurgery to remove a substantial cystic tumour. One of the doctors I was speaking with said that given the location of the tumour, it is very likely I was able to function as well as I did for as long I did because I am left handed. If I was right handed, I probably would have had much greater problems/symptoms earlier on.
Conversely, because my body was able to compensate, the tumour was able to develop into a much greater size than if it was detected earlier. It was 8 cm (> 3") in the long axis. Thankfully though, the docs at UCLA Westwood did a wonderful job, and I am able to move on with my life.
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Perhaps that Arizona sun has addled your brain. The largest trading partners in the world, by far, are Canada and the US.
Thanks!
The tumour itself was located just inside the skull between the occipital and parietal lobes, on the left side. The cyst seemed to develop "inward" through the lateral ventricle, distending it. It was apparently a slow growing ganglioglioma-type tumour, and could have started developing in my early adolescence (I'm 34 now). There are under 2,000 tumours similar to mine reported annually in the US, about 2% of all brain tumours. IANABS, but I have definitely learned more about it than I ever thought I would...
The only effect that hasn't returned to normal was with my vision. The peripheral vision is about half gone from my right eye. I can still detect movement out there, but couldn't say count the number of fingers you were holding up.
The neurosurgeon (Dr Linda Liau @ UCLA) said that I was initially a candidate for being conscious during surgery to ensure important areas weren't affected, but after they did some more scans, they were able just knock me out and remove it.
It is constantly amazing to me what they can do these days. If this had happened say 30 years ago, I would not have been so lucky with the outcome...
-v-
I recently had neurosurgery to remove a substantial cystic tumour. One of the doctors I was speaking with said that given the location of the tumour, it is very likely I was able to function as well as I did for as long I did because I am left handed. If I was right handed, I probably would have had much greater problems/symptoms earlier on.
Conversely, because my body was able to compensate, the tumour was able to develop into a much greater size than if it was detected earlier. It was 8 cm (> 3") in the long axis. Thankfully though, the docs at UCLA Westwood did a wonderful job, and I am able to move on with my life.
-v-