It is official – the tumor is back for an encore. The radiologist confirms that I once again have a craniopharyngioma. The tumor is pressing on my optic nerves (I’m going blind); the tumor is messing with my pituitary gland; and it is pressing on a vascular artery.
In case you missed it, here’s the Wikipedia take on this type of tumor:
They are very slow growing tumors. They arise from the cells along the pituitary stalk. They are classified as benign.
Craniopharyngioma is a rare, usually suprasellar neoplasm, which may be cystic, that develops from the nests of epithelium derived from Rathke’s pouch. Rathke’s pouch is an embryonic precursor of the anterior pituitary.
Two distinct types are recognized: adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma and papillary craniopharyngioma.
On macroscopic examination, craniopharyngiomas are cystic or partially-cystic with solid areas. On light microscopy, the cysts are seen to be lined by stratified squamous epithelium. Keratin pearls may also be seen. The cysts are usually filled with a yellow, viscous fluid which is rich in cholesterol crystals. In addition to a long list of possible symptoms, the most common presentation include: headaches, growth failure, and bitemporal heteronymous hemianopsia.
TREATMENT: Consists of subfrontal or transsphenoidal excision (with adjuvant radiotherapy, if total removal is not not possible).
If you would like more information, this is a fairly comrehensive site: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1157758-overview
I saw my favorite family physician today, Dr. Nelson Onaro, and he is working with me to get things rolling. Surgery most likely but I’ve yet to hear from the neurosurgeon, Dr. Patrick Han.
Writing about this is a bit hard tonight. I’m still not at terms with it. I went through this two year ago and I’m not ashamed to say I’m not ready to go through it again. What can I do? It is what it is. I’ll do what I must but I don’t see how quite yet.
I want to say thanks to all the people who have wished me well, kept me in their prayers and sent good vibes my way. I need them, every one.
