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Featured Survivor |
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Michelle Mostovy-Eisenberg
About 2 years ago Michelle was experiencing severe headaches, problems with depth perception, dizziness and fatigue. Her physician gave her anti-anxiety medications, and recommended for her to reduce the stress in her life. After several months of these symptoms, her physician sent her for blood work and an MRI. These revealed some scary results.
Michelle was diagnosed with a golf ball sized tumor in her brain. On February 19th of 2009 (just over a year ago) Michelle had a craniotomy at Sloan –Kettering in New York to remove the grade 2 astrocytoma. Grade 3 is a cancer diagnosis. Even though, she was not diagnosed with “cancer”, she experiences a lot of the same symptoms, and side effects as those that have been diagnosed.
One year post-surgery Michelle is still dealing with the side effects from a brain tumor. She has lack of sensation and pain along her face. She also has difficulty chewing, fatigue, problems with depth perception and dizziness. She also stated she is on several medications to counter act these side effects. She has also experienced depression, since she can’t work, or drive a car. These are things most people take for granted.
Michelle states she has been very lucky with regard to the support from her family and friends. They call, send e-mails, cards, have visited, and have taken her out for lunch to get her out of the house. Her parents have put their lives on hold to support her and she is grateful for that. Aside from family and friends, she found support from online message boards and health chat rooms talking with others who have brain tumors/in recovery.
Long term side effects are a huge part of her life, however she feels that she is better than she was a year ago and tumor free, this plays a huge part in dealing with these effects. We are happy to report that she just celebrated her first tumorversary in February and looks forward to kicking off her 30’s tumor free.
She expressed how thankful she was to have great neurologists at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, Jeanes Hospital/Temple University Neurology Department in Philadelphia, and the Neuro-Oncology Branch at the National Institute of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD. Words cannot describe her gratitude for these 3 institutions.
QUOTES |
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What’s the best thing about being around other young adult cancer survivors?
Being with other young people who understand what I am going through is a feeling I can’t describe.
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What would your personal message to all survivors be?
Don’t be afraid to get a second or third opinion. Be your own health advocate; only you know your body and if something doesn’t feel right, get it checked out – you know your own body better than anyone.
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What would your message to the general public be?
Don’t turn your back on someone diagnosed with cancer or a tumor, no matter what their age. It may be shocking to hear of his or her diagnosis, but he or she needs your support and love now more than ever. |
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If you know of someone that would be interested in telling their story, and possibly providing hope for those who are going through treatment, Please have them contact Tanya@CancerSurvivorsUnite.org.
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If you know of someone that would be interested in telling their story, and possibly providing hope for those who are going through treatment, Please have them contact Tanya@CancerSurvivorsUnite.org.