Pep & Sarah run for a cure

3 - the number of brain surgery’s Nicks had in 5 years.

Knowing about something and living through it are 2 completely different things. This is our reality, a very scary one. We found out about a new tumour growth in July 2022, and Nick underwent his 3rd brain surgery in August 2022. Another craniotomy and resection done and a ripper scar to go with it. Nick recovered well and started chemo in September 2022. Chemo is now ongoing, one week, once a month for the next 12 months.

This is how our experience started..

In 2017, Sarah found Nick having a seizure in the bathroom. Little did we know our lives where about to change forever. Nick was taken to hospital by ambulance where he had an MRI. The doctors gave us the news that they had found a lesion on his brain. A few days later Nick was moved to the Royal Melbourne Hospital to have his first brain resection surgery. We later found out that the tumour was bigger then a golf ball. Nick had the surgery and spent a few days in the ICU ward, and was then moved to rehab for a few weeks to learn how to use the left side of his body again. Nick recovered well and we were told the biopsy results - a grade 2 oligodendroglioma - the neurosurgeon advised that they would never be able to remove all of his tumour but they would keep on top of the growth. We continued on with scans 3 monthly.

In November 2018, the neurosurgeon had found more growth on his scan and wanted to do another operation to remove more of the tumour. Nick underwent another resection in January 2019 - when Sarah was 24 weeks pregnant with Evie. All went well, and 4 weeks afterwards he had to do an intense 12 weeks of radiation 5 days a week. This came to the time of Sarah’s birth with Evie. Nick had to leave the hospital when Evie was born to go and finish his radiation. After that, he was on watch (regular MRI) and wait. All was going smoothly and we were in and out of appointments for a couple of months with everything looking the best that it could.

In 2020 Nick went to work. Sarah received a call at 6.30am from a police officer. Nick had been in a car accident and he was ok, but they think he had a seizure while driving. Nick had more scans, and everything looked as normal as usual, so they kept him on regular scans. This bought us to July 2022, where during routine scans every 6 months, Nick received the called from his neurosurgeon whilst at work advising that his tumour has grown again, 14mm in diameter, and that they would need to operate yet again. After this surgery, the neurosurgeon gave us the biopsy results. Nick’s tumour has mutated from a Grade 2 to a Grade 3. Nick is now undergoing chemotherapy once a week, once a month, for 12 months.

What is oligodendroglioma?

Oligodendroglioma is a tumor that forms in the brain. These uncommon tumors usually develop in either the frontal or temporal lobes of the brain, with Nick’s being in his right frontal lobe.

Oligodendrogliomas develop from cells called oligodendrocytes. Oligodendrocytes create a substance that protects nerves in the brain and helps them function. Oligodendrogliomas can be malignant (cancer) or benign (not cancer) - Nick’s is a malignant tumour. Some of these tumors grow quickly, but many are slower. They may spread to other parts of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). They don’t usually spread outside the central nervous system.

What complications & side affects are associated with this tumour?

* Coordination and balance problems

* Difficulty speaking

* Hearing, vision and smelling problems

* Nausea and vomiting

* Weakness or movement trouble in the arms, legs, or on one side of the body

Living with brain cancer is uncomfortable, Nick lives with this everyday. Despite being uncomfortable everyday, we still find ways to challenge our comfort zones, which is why we decided to train to run this half marathon (Run Melbourne in July) to raise money for the Brain Cancer Foundation. Any donation, big or small, it all counts. We are forever grateful for all of your support.