Meningioma diagnosis
in Health ·
I’m posting this in hopes that my experience might offer some clarity to anyone else navigating similar territory.
To give you the short version—as the title suggests—I underwent a craniotomy to remove a 5.5 cm tumor located right in the center of my motor cortex. Since then, I’ve been dealing with weakness in my left leg. Even three and a half years post-op, the physical therapy continues—mostly just to maintain the progress I’ve made and ensure I can actually walk at all, thanks to some incredibly intense rehab. Following the surgery, I went through radiation therapy. It was originally suggested, and eventually became absolutely necessary due to both the tumor type and its size, even though my post-op brain MRIs looked clean.
I’m not saying this to express regret—the procedure saved my life, and for that, I am profoundly grateful—but the quality of life hit a significant snag. I can’t go for a run, I can’t ride a bike, and I have to wear a wig to cover the area where radiation prevented permanent hair growth. Plus, there’s the daily reality of living on anti-epileptic medication...
If anyone finds themselves facing this diagnosis, please feel free to reach out. I’m only 27, but having been through the wringer myself, I know how difficult it is to find any truly useful information.
To give you the short version—as the title suggests—I underwent a craniotomy to remove a 5.5 cm tumor located right in the center of my motor cortex. Since then, I’ve been dealing with weakness in my left leg. Even three and a half years post-op, the physical therapy continues—mostly just to maintain the progress I’ve made and ensure I can actually walk at all, thanks to some incredibly intense rehab. Following the surgery, I went through radiation therapy. It was originally suggested, and eventually became absolutely necessary due to both the tumor type and its size, even though my post-op brain MRIs looked clean.
I’m not saying this to express regret—the procedure saved my life, and for that, I am profoundly grateful—but the quality of life hit a significant snag. I can’t go for a run, I can’t ride a bike, and I have to wear a wig to cover the area where radiation prevented permanent hair growth. Plus, there’s the daily reality of living on anti-epileptic medication...
If anyone finds themselves facing this diagnosis, please feel free to reach out. I’m only 27, but having been through the wringer myself, I know how difficult it is to find any truly useful information.