2008 Woodie Awards
Nothing can stop power of determination
Faced with tumor, student believes:
Stacy Conway
Issue date: 4/15/05 Section: Features
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Ranger Features Editor
More than 190,000 people were told they had primary or secondary brain tumors last year. Last week, an Amarillo College student found herself in that number.
"I had been having problems for the past year. They just seemed to be getting worse," said Hayley Smith, who didn't want her real name to be used.
There are many types and locations of brain tumors and many ways to treat them, according to the Cancer Group Institute.
According to Dr. Thomas Winston, some symptoms are fully dependant on the tumor's location. With so many parts of the brain, different areas can be affected.
"I get dizzy, nauseous, and most of all, I pass out occasionally," Smith said. "That has to be the scariest one."
Proper treatment the first time isn't always successful. New advancements in technology, however, offer hope.
"We didn't diagnose her tumor until this past doctor's visit. We noticed a spot on her MRI the time before," said Dr. Charles Bradshaw. "But there can always be mistakes and discrepancies. We wanted to wait and take another one at another time."
The ability to see cancer in a patient is crucial; that's why there are many ways to see just what is going on inside. According to the American Cancer Society, 10 different machines can be used to see cancerous cells.
"I have had about every test in the book," Smith said. "I'm glad in a way that we found out what is wrong. I know that I have a long road ahead of me, though."
When the doctor performs an MRI, the patient first is laid on a table. Then the doctor or nurse Velcros a brace around the patient's head so she is unable to move. The patient is given earplugs. Then she is moved inside and images are produced on the computer for the doctor to look at. Winston said they are able to tell then whether something is wrong.
"The MRI tube was so loud. It sounded like a jackhammer was in there with me," Smith said.
The No. 1 treatment for a brain tumor usually is surgery, according to the Cancer Group Institute. Surgery isn't always a likely option, however.
More than 190,000 people were told they had primary or secondary brain tumors last year. Last week, an Amarillo College student found herself in that number.
"I had been having problems for the past year. They just seemed to be getting worse," said Hayley Smith, who didn't want her real name to be used.
There are many types and locations of brain tumors and many ways to treat them, according to the Cancer Group Institute.
According to Dr. Thomas Winston, some symptoms are fully dependant on the tumor's location. With so many parts of the brain, different areas can be affected.
"I get dizzy, nauseous, and most of all, I pass out occasionally," Smith said. "That has to be the scariest one."
Proper treatment the first time isn't always successful. New advancements in technology, however, offer hope.
"We didn't diagnose her tumor until this past doctor's visit. We noticed a spot on her MRI the time before," said Dr. Charles Bradshaw. "But there can always be mistakes and discrepancies. We wanted to wait and take another one at another time."
The ability to see cancer in a patient is crucial; that's why there are many ways to see just what is going on inside. According to the American Cancer Society, 10 different machines can be used to see cancerous cells.
"I have had about every test in the book," Smith said. "I'm glad in a way that we found out what is wrong. I know that I have a long road ahead of me, though."
When the doctor performs an MRI, the patient first is laid on a table. Then the doctor or nurse Velcros a brace around the patient's head so she is unable to move. The patient is given earplugs. Then she is moved inside and images are produced on the computer for the doctor to look at. Winston said they are able to tell then whether something is wrong.
"The MRI tube was so loud. It sounded like a jackhammer was in there with me," Smith said.
The No. 1 treatment for a brain tumor usually is surgery, according to the Cancer Group Institute. Surgery isn't always a likely option, however.