Update: 7 Months Post-Radiation

I had my follow-up appointment with my oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center today and could not wait to share the results. Time will tell, but already there is a subtle indication that the tumor may be shrinking. My MRI reports says the residual tumor is stable and appears less prominent along the left cavernous sinus region.

Here's the MRI comparison (not exact - but close):

Click on the image to enlarge

Also, my pituitary is still functioning with no indication of damage. All hormone levels are within normal limits and my IGF-1 dropped from 190 to 156. I'm still experiencing random headaches and bouts of fatigue, but not to the degree that I had during or shortly after radiation. Overall I feel pretty good and am thankful for the great news. I return to Houston for another follow-up in 6 months.

**For those of you that have an active case of acromegaly please note that I am an anomaly in the world of acromegalics. I have been in remission since my first surgery in 2005 and had a very mild case of acromegaly due to the fact that my tumor is partially functioning. If I have an occasional burst of excess hormone it's not usually detected in my blood work. My growth hormone levels have remained in the normal range and I've never needed medication to control the disease. Most acromegalics tell a different story and are treated with medication and/or surgery before they proceed to radiation treatment. Not everyone's situation is the same. My current battle is primarily with tumor growth as it continues to invade my skull base.

Webinar: Understanding Proton Therapy

MD Anderson's Proton Therapy Center is featured in this webinar hosted by the American Brain Tumor Association. It is about 45 minutes in length and very informative.

Q & A begins at aprox 28:00

If you are considering radiation treatment for a pituitary tumor, this video on may be helpful in learning more about this type of radiation and how it works.

Read about my personal experience with Proton Beam Radiation: Click here

Blessings

I heard this song for the first time just before my second brain surgery in 2011. The words brought me to tears, and it's still one of my favorite songs. However, I didn't know that the singer's husband had surgery for a brain tumor in 2006. I hope her words bring you as much comfort as they did me. May your blessings be found in unexpected places. Listen:

Laura Story - Blessings