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Brain Tumor
Facts
Read about facts and statistics of brain tumor.
In Honor of all brain tumor patients.
The amazing people featured below are all part of the San Diego Brain Tumor Foundation Family. Their continuous courage and endurance during their struggle with a brain tumor is an inspiration to us all.
For easier navigation, please choose a person below:
Scott W.
Name: Kenneth Scott ( age 46 )
Home: El Cajon, CA
Family: Single father of two since 1985 (Scotty, 28 and Tony, 24)
Occupation: Chef until September, 2002
Hobbies: Cooking, riding my Harleys, collecting and listening to music, and going to the gym
Scott’s Story: I was first diagnosed with a Brain tumor on July 20, 2001 and had surgery on July 24, 2001. It was a large mass in my right temporal lobe about the shape and size of a bar of soap. The Pathology came back as a malignant Astrocytoma grade 2-3. I chose to skip radiation and chemo so I could return back to work as a Chef by October 5th. It was at this time I was introduced to the San Diego Brain Tumor Foundation's support group.
How SDBTF Has Helped: SDBTF has helped me understand and learn about my affliction and how to live with it by sharing my feelings and concerns with other people who also live with brain cancer. The SDBTF has been there for me with financial help for my medical premiums and co-pays a few times when I needed them. The SDBTF was also there for me during my latest diagnosis and surgery for a second brain tumor in June 2007.
Scott’s Advice for Others: My best suggestion for someone in this situation is to find a higher power, maintain a great sense of humor and reduce as much stress as possible
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Nikki N.
Name: Nikki N.
Home: San Diego
Family: Married
Occupation: Retired healthcare
Hobbies: cooking, gardening, running, sewing, reading, fitness, dog, hiking
Nikki's Diagnosis: Subependymoma tumor in my left ventricle. Diagnosed in 2007 and now a 3 year survivor.
How SDBTF Has Helped:
The Foundation has helped me a great deal by providing a support group. Knowing there are others survivors to talk to is very important in your recovery.
Nikki's advice for Others:
Stay positive and active physically and mentally. Never give up hope and try to get back in a regular routine as soon as possible.
*Nikki was featured in The San Diego Union Tribune in June of 2008 for her participation in the Aflac Iron Girl Del Mar event. http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080620/news_1s20breakout.html
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Dan C.
Name: Dan C.
Home: La Mesa, CA
Family: Married for 7 years with 3 kids, ages 12, 9 and 5
Occupation: Electrical Contractor
Hobbies: Anything outdoors- climbing, mountain biking, hiking, enjoying the beach
Dan’s Diagnosis: First tumor was diagnosed in August of 2001. The second tumor in 2006 and it metastasized in December of 2007
How SDBTF Has Helped: SDBTF has definitely helped financially especially with rent assistance. Last year at this time, I was turning away work because I was going through chemo and could only do so much. This year there isn’t much work anywhere so the help with rent has been wonderful. The support from the monthly group has been a big helpas well. The other survivors are very inspirational- I have gained a lot of knowledge from the group.
Dan’s Advice for Others: One piece of advice is to stay active, especially during chemo- keep moving around. Keep a positive attitude. The most important thing though is probably to be patient. Fighting and beating cancer doesn’t happen overnight so you have to have patience. The doctors and medicine are so good these days so trust them!
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Valerie R.
Name: Valerie R.
Home: Currently living in La Jolla
Family: Husband, 2 year old son, and soon to be newborn son. I'm originally from Las Cruces, New Mexico where the rest of my family lives.
Hobbies: I'm a clinical psychologist in private practice and hobbies include running, hiking, reading, and staying busy with family activities.
Valerie’s diagnosis: I was diagnosed with a menigioma in 2002 in the right temporal lobe. It was successfully removed a month after diagnosis by craniotomy.
How SDBTF has helped: The SDBTF has served as a great inspiration to me. The support groups have been a wonderful way of connecting with others and sharing emotional support as well as gaining practical advice about navigating ones way through the often complicated medical system. I have met incredible, giving people and am constantly motivated by other people's stories.
Valerie’s Advice for Others: My advice to others would be to take people up on their offers to help. It's easy to feel like you would be a burden on others, but they likely would not be offering unless they genuinely meant it. Also, involvement in the support groups is extremely beneficial.