Tackling A Brain Tumor With Gratitude
- Ellie Musgrove, 21, went to the eye doctor thinking she needed glasses after struggling with headaches, neck pain, double vision and seeing black spots. But her optometrist knew something serious was wrong when he saw that her optic nerves were swollen.
- After an emergency trip to the hospital, Musgrove discovered she had a brain tumor and immediately underwent an operation to remove excess fluid in her brain.
- Symptoms of brain tumors are often caused by increased pressure in the skull. Symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, balance problems, personality or behavior changes, seizures, drowsiness or even comas. It is important to note, however, that these symptoms are not exclusive to brain tumors.
- We've seen so many people facing health battles like Musgrove find light in the darkest times of their lives. Danielle Ripley-Burgess, a two-time colon cancer survivor, says her cancer journey helped her uncover "some beautiful things: Wisdom. Love. Life purpose. Priorities."
Musgrove started having severe headaches and neck pain, suffering from double vision and seeing black spots after turning 21 in January.
Read MoreAfter scans and tests that same day, doctors discovered hydrocephalus the buildup of fluid in the cavities (ventricles) deep within the brain. Eventually an MRI revealed what was really wrong.
"The MRI confirmed I had a brain tumor between the pineal and pituitary glands, which was blocking the fluid flow around my brain," Musgrove said.
The tumor was benign, but Musgrove was rushed into surgery to drain excess fluid that had built up in her brain. Medics said she would have died if the tumor was left alone for another 24 hours.
"I went from having my eyes tested at 11 a.m. to having emergency brain surgery by 11:30 p.m. on the same day," Musgrove said.
In addition, Musgrove was also diagnosed with Addison's disease an uncommon disorder resulting from a lack of certain hormones in your body.
"The tumor is affecting my pituitary gland, which is a devastating blow as I will have to take hydrocortisone steroids [to combat Addison's disease] for the rest of my life," she said.
The slow-growing tumor will not have to be removed anytime soon, but she’ll be monitored for any sort of fluid build up again. For Dr. Mahmood, this is just another reason to “[look] after your eye health.”
"Had Ellie ignored her symptoms and put off seeing an optician, it could have been a very different outcome," he said of her situation.
Though her life will never be the same, Musgrove is feeling thankful that everything worked out as it did.
"My life has been turned upside down, but I, along with my family, will be forever grateful to Aqeel Mahmood," she said. "If it weren't for him, I would not be here today. He saved my life."
Understanding Brain Tumors
According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), brain tumors account for 85 to 90 percent of all primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord and acts as the main "processing center" for the nervous system. Normal function of the brain and spinal cord can become difficult if there's a tumor present that puts pressure on or spreads into nearby normal tissue.
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There are many different types of brain and spinal cord tumors. Some are more likely to spread into nearby parts of the brain or spinal cord than others. Slow-growing tumors may be considered benign, but even these tumors can cause serious problems.
General Symptoms of Brain Tumors
Symptoms of brain tumors, as a whole, are often caused by increased pressure in the skull. This pressure can be caused by tumor growth, swelling in the brain or blockage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), according to the American Cancer Society.
General symptoms may include the following:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Balance problems
- Personality or behavior changes
- Seizures
- Drowsiness or even coma
But it is important to note that these symptoms are not exclusive to brain tumors. Still, you should always consult with your doctor if any health problems arise.
Finding Light in Dark Times
It's very normal to have negative feelings throughout a health journey, cancer or otherwise. And it's important to remember that it’s more than okay to express those negative feelings too.
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Anger, shame, fear and anxiety are all to be expected. But we've seen time and time again that so many people faced with health challenges like cancer or in Ellie Musgrove’s case, a benign brain tumor rise up to find light and faith despite going through so much hardship.
Take Danielle Ripley-Burgess, for example. She's a two-time colon cancer survivor who was first diagnosed with colon cancer in high school and proceeded to beat the disease not once, but twice. Understandably so, Ripley-Burgess has had to work through a lot of emotions that came with her cancer and its recurrence. Even still, she's always managed to look at life with a positive attitude.
"As I've worked through the complex emotions of cancer, I've uncovered some beautiful things: Wisdom. Love. Life purpose. Priorities," she previously told SurvivorNet. "I carry a very real sense that life is short, and I'm grateful to be living it! This has made me optimistic.
“Optimism doesn't mean that fear, pain and division don't exist they do. Our world is full of negativity, judgment, and hate. Optimism means that I believe there's always good to be found despite the bad, and this is what my life is centered around."
She moves through life with a sense of purpose unique to someone who's been faced with the darkest of times. Happily in remission today, she's determined to, one day, leave the world better than she found it.
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"We can choose to stay positive, treat others with respect and look for the light in spite of the darkness," she said. "This type of attitude and behavior will lead to the kind of legacies I believe all of us hope to leave."
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