THE DISCOVERY-THE JOURNEY'S BEGINNING

Well, here I am. I guess I am catching up with newer technology and actually creating my own blog. This has all come about due to the overwhelming support of emails, calls, and prayers since I have been diagnosed with a pituitary brain tumor.

In order to keep those who are interested up-to-date, I decided to create this blog where everyone can check progress as we go along. Perhaps I will like this blogging so much I will keep it up from now on.

Many have asked how I discovered the tumor. About a year ago in September 2007, I had my annual physical done. At that time I mentioned to my doctor that I was having occassional discomfort behind my right ear. He asked what I did for the pain and I told him I took tylenol and that seemed to ease the pain. He said to monitor it and if there was any significant change to let him know. As the months went along, the discomfort was there but nothing overbearing. Gradually, I began to notice a slight pressure in my right ear feeling like my ear needed to be popped or perhaps there was water in my ear. Discomfort behind my ear became constant and a feeling like pins were sticking me there also began. I noticed that I was having some short term memory loss. I tried to blame that on age and stress but guess that wasn't the case.

When I went in for my annual in September 2008, I mentioned what was going on and asked that we be proactive about this as my uncle and grandfather had both had brain tumors. My uncle's had wrapped around his ear canal and caused him to lose his hearing in that ear. I am not sure what type my grandfather had but praise God that both of their tumors were benign.
The doctor scheduled an mri on my 50th birthday. That was the first mri I ever remember having. It is difficult to lay still for so long. The preliminary results showed a possible pituitary tumor and a more extensive mri was ordered. The results from the second mri showed a definite tumor attached to the pituitary and it is just a little bit smaller than the size of a quarter. The best way to describe the location of the pituitary is to draw a line from ear to ear and from nose to the back of skull. Where those lines intersect is the pituitary.

As you can imagine, my mind ran wild. Any problems in the head is never good and just the word "tumor" stirs up all kinds of bad thoughts. Immediately we began doing research on a pituitary tumor and found out that 99% of them are benign and many people have them and don't even know it. It seems as if they can remain very small and one never knows unless they are pressing against a nerve or something. That is the case with mine as it is extending to the right and pressing on the nerves that extend to my ear and the back of my head.

According to what I've read, some pituitary tumors, depending on size, can be treated with medication. Others radiation and still others surgery. The diagnosis so far is that surgery will be needed.

I had so many dear and wonderful friends step up and offer assistance in getting into the top hospitals that deal with pituitary tumors. Many calls were made on my behalf to several medical centers and I so appreciated that. After a lot of prayer and research I decided on MD Anderson and Dr. Ian McCutcheon. He is the chief surgeon for pituitary brain tumors at the Brain and Spine Institute at MD Anderson. There are numerous neurosurgeons out there but selecting one who does this day in and day out was very important to me. I will be traveling to MD Anderson on November 4th for appointments with the doctor and endocronologist and surgery will be approximately one week later.

Once I was diagnosed with the tumor, many prayer requests went out on my behalf. I have been so humbled by all of them and I know God has heard every prayer and He will answer every one of them. I know that God will use this inconvenience in my life for His glory and everything will be just fine.

Well, that describes the beginning of this journey and a journey it will be. I will keep this updated as I learn new things. I will post some links that maybe helpful in understanding. I've uploaded a picture of the actual mri so you can see where the tumor is and the size. Scary, egh?

Psalm 111:1-9Praise the Lord! I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. The works of the LORD are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them. His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever. He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and full of compassion. He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant. He has declared to His people the power of His works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. The works of His hands are verity and justice; all His precepts are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name.

Our faith is in the LORD! The creator of the universe and all that is within it. Praise, honor, power, and glory be unto Him. For He is greatly to be praised.


Here is a link to the biography of Dr. Ian McCutcheon:
http://www.mdanderson.org/Care_Centers/BrainSpinal/display.cfm?id=E7DC266B-803E-11D4-AEC800508BDCCE3A&method=displayFull&pn=E7DC2468-803E-11D4-AEC800508BDCCE3A

The pituitary is a tiny pea-sized gland at the base of the brain. It serves as the body's "command center," producing hormones that regulate growth and metabolism, as well as the actions of other glands, including the thyroid, adrenals and gonads (ovaries in women and testes in men).Tumors arising from the cells of the pituitary gland are also known as pituitary adenomas. They are almost always benign, but can have significant side effects when they produce excessive amounts of hormones or grow large enough to affect normal pituitary function or interfere with surrounding structures, particularly the optic nerves, which are responsible for sight.There are few known risk factors for pituitary adenomas. The only confirmed risk factor is multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1), a hereditary condition that increases the chance of developing certain pituitary tumors.

Types of Pituitary Tumors
Diagnosing Pituitary Tumors
Treating Pituitary Tumors

Symptoms of Pituitary Tumors:
Specific symptoms depend on the type of hormone secreted by a pituitary tumor. Symptoms that may result from the size of the tumor can include headaches, double vision and loss of vision due to impingment of the optic nerves.