Brain Tumors

In 2000, my insurance changed and I had to get a new doctor. I shared with him that I had migraines several times a week, and he had me get an MRI to scan for brain tumors, even though he really didn't think I had one.

Lo and behold, I had two! Deep down in the center of my brain. Fortunately, they turned out to be benign lipomas, which are common on your body but extremely rare in the brain. They are not involved in anything, instead just sitting between the two major lobes of my brain. And as such, they get to stay there.

When I went to see my neurosurgeon, Dr. Garrett Jackson in May and he was taking my medical history, I told him about the lipomas and said that they were resolved. (My family doctor's term for them.)

"I'd like to be the judge of that," Dr. Jackson said. In retrospect, I am so glad he did.

Turns out I have a third brain tumor. Dr. Jackson took a look at my most recent MRI  (2008) and saw a grape-sized tumor at the lower right base of my skull. Somehow, those who read that scan had missed it. He had me get an MRI as soon as I was healed enough from my back surgery to be able to tolerate lying on my back in the machine.

The bad news is that I have yet another brain tumor. The good news is that it is a slow growing meningioma and has only grown a tiny amount in the last eight years. 85% of meningiomas are non cancerous, too.

So... it gets to stay inside my head, just like the other two. I know the signs to watch for that would indicate it is growing, and I don't need another MRI for five years unless I have those indicators.

Call me very, very grateful for that good news.