Philip's "GBM" brain cancer healing
Hello, everyone! My name is Philip Escobedo. I live here in NYC, working as a game designer during the day, Broadway usher at night, and I make YouTube videos in my off time, so I'm quite busy trying to survive.
OK, so on the morning of December 28th, I awoke in the hospital without any recollection of what was going on. The doctors informed me that around 10 am, I was having a massive seizure in my sleep: tensing of the body muscles, foaming at the mouth, odd noises. It took at least 5 paramedics to hold me down and try to sedate me. While carrying me down the stairs (I live on a 6-floor walkup, I had another smaller seizure, but I think that one passed. Then, while in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, I had a third, which they did have to sedate me again. I was originally taken into Beth Israel, which was okay, but only after a couple of days, they discharged me and let me walk home alone, which no one was happy with. However, a good friend helped get me into New York Presbyterian on January 5th, which is known for their neurology department (apparently people fly in to get it work done).
After original scans and MRI work, it was discovered that I had a tumor in my right frontal lobe. Now the tumor was somewhat small (about the size of a marble). However, there was massive swelling around it that was significantly hindering my motor functions: speech, short term memory, strength, constant headaches, and many tremors throughout my body, so they said it had to be removed as soon as possible.
I had my tumor removal surgery on January 13th, which come to find out, was deeper than they originally had thought, meaning a small, thumbnail-sized piece was left in. A week later, the pathology report came in, stating it was indeed Grade 4 Glioblastoma multiform (GBM) brain cancer - Grade 4 being the most aggressive. I am 29 years old (will be 30 in May), and I really don't want this right now (or every) of course, so am going to try and do everything I can to make my life (and others) as amazing as possible before.... I plan on doing this by starting a motivational YouTube series to help others in need. Nothing "professional," but something "real," if that makes sense.
Apparently, with GBM, it is not curable with modern medicines, and being in the brain the borders of it are "fuzzy," meaning they could not just take it all out if they wanted to. There could still be particles left over that could travel and infect other parts of my brain down the line, so for now, I am going to be going through radiation and chemotherapy, along with a clinical trial for immunotherapy, starting on January 15th. Chemo is a pill called Temodar, which I have to take every day for 6 weeks. Radiation, I have to go to the hospital every weekday, also for 6 weeks, and they will just zap the area that has the remaining tumor part in it. For the clinical trial, I will be getting an IV infusion (ugh, tired of needles), ever two weeks, starting Thursday the 16th. Going to be a LONG six weeks, y'all, but fingers crossed that everything will go well. Doctors think that because of my younger age for this, I have a higher chance of survival... so both fingers crossed - and toes! Ha.
The reason for starting this campaign is that of course, I have been - and will be - missing quite a bit of work, due to all the hospital visits, surgery, medications, and post-therapy sessions especially. My insurance only pays so much, but I am still getting bills, so I'm worried about that. Other expenses, of course, will be coming up, too: rent, food, medications, and what I need to create a sense of rest and zen. If there is anything anyone can do, I would greatly appreciate it. I'm not used to doing something like this, so it is a little awkward for me, more or less. But, at this moment in life, I actually can use all the help I can get.
I do thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Love and peace to you all. Also, remember to keep smiling, because I always am!!! :D