The situation

While I may enjoy Jersey Shore, let me start by saying I am speaking about my specific situation and not The Situation, just to clarify.

But I DO love me some John Mayer!  Holler!!

John Mayer distracts me, and I digress...

The day we fell in love, adult braces and all

Sorry, back to the serious stuff...

People have asked friends and family about the severity and details of my tumor and situation, so I wanted to share what info I have.  I am not an expert (except in John Mayer... sorry, still distracted) and this is my understanding of my tumor and tumors in general, from talking with my doctors and living with an unwanted visitor in my brain.

Brain tumors are a bit different than tumors elsewhere in the body.  Other tumors are more black and white and more easily fall into the cancer versus non-cancer and benign versus malignant categories.  Brain tumors are not necessarily that clear.  

It is my basic understanding that cancer means that tumors in one area of the body cause tumors in other areas of the body (to really dumb it down).  Brain tumors are not typically cancerous and are not usually caused by (or cause) other tumors.  Some can be cancerous; mine, luckily, is not.  It is having a big party in my brain but luckily has not invited any other organs to attend.  It's a very VIP party.

Brain tumors are also not easily categorized as benign (good/harmless) or malignant (bad/harmful), like other tumors can be.  They fall into the level/stage categories like other tumors; mine is a 2 out of 4.  However, there isn't really any type of brain tumor that is straight-up benign and can be ignored or forgotten about.  Rather, they're lower (more benign) or higher grade (more malignant).  Mine is/was well-behaved and low grade, meaning it's not growing or slow growing and not causing too much trouble.  Lower grade tumors may also not yet require additional treatment, like radiation or chemo.  But all brain tumors, even the more benign ones, will most likely grow back over time.  There is always a possibility (and likelihood? not sure) that tumors will become more dangerous over time too.  My tumor could grow back more aggressively or be a higher stage; I'd need additional treatment then.

So, the moral of my tumor is that it's 1) not cancerous and 2) low grade/more benign.  However, the 2nd part of that sentence is only true currently and could/will change.

As my favorite loverboy John Mayer says about me, my body is a wonderland.  If only I could kick my unwanted tumor groupie out permanently, life would be even more grand.  

(You all know JM was bound to make an appearance on here eventually...)  ;)