Fighting and surviving GBM Cancer Thomas Scrivens

Hello everyone! It's been super ages since I wrote a blog page. It's been such an eventful few weeks with everything. Alot of close family and friends would know, but I would like to announce a fantastic victory in my hands. Recently, I had my MRI. As always I was nervous and very anxious. As MRI's determine your fate and can indicate if the tumor is responding. I'll cut to the chase, as soon as I got the MRI scan and my Oncologist came into the room with a big smile on his face. My tumor had shrunk by at least 40%! My tumor is responding to treatment! Praise God! Thank-you Jesus. Ten significant long months of fighting this blasted disease and finally got some good results. This was amazing, I felt like a thousand bricks lifted up and I slept for days as I was battled weary. For more information on this story, my awesome friend Jackson Miller who is going to become an outstanding Journalist has written an article about it. Here is the link. http://newsroom.macl

Last couple of nights have been really tough, not being able to sleep. Long being awake by a thousands thoughts running through my mind. Its now nearly October and I don't even know where I am in the fight. It's not like a broken arm, you know when you will be healed, this Cancer is so up in the air, not even at arms reach to take control. Recently, I was out of action with a 10 day flu, which is serious because it can lead to death and can quickly shut my body down because my immune system is defenceless at this time. It is so hard to find strength and motivation when the whole world keeps going, your still doing treatment, and having to cancel so many catch ups with friends due to sudden illness from chemotherapy reactions. I am not one to sit at home all day, I love driving, coffees, movies and hanging out with friends and family. I am currently on a new Infusion Clinical Trial, which is a all day Infusion, the staff are lovely and the hospital is excellent. I think I ha

LATEST NEWS In June, I had to have a MRI after my third cycle of chemotherapy and Windupeppment Vaccine trial. Not really anxious nor was I too afraid, I think in these circumstances you can't make the build up too dramatic. If you build your emotions up too much, if a negative result occurs you will be crashed. So, here it goes. I went to have the MRI. Usual thing, travel 120km, can't find a park, walk long distances, check in, fill out 10 pages of paperwork you have already filled out last MRI , you get changed, get your contrast needle ready, choose your music, get called in, sit in the tunnel for 90mins and having emotions of I can't wait to get the heck out of here. During the MRI procedure, emotions of the scary MRI I had in January which they discovered a tumor was starting to evaporate inside my mind. As I could see down my body, I notice the radiographers and doctors look liked the guys I had in January. Some starting shaking their heads. Once the MRI was finis

From going on various small therapeutic trips since I was diagnosed with Cancer, I often pray to God to give me a signs of hope, future and a sense that there is light at the end of the tunnel. You may not believe in faith or anything but some spiritual and supernatural appears at the end of almost every prayer. Take a look at these shots. I think these images are a visual manifestation of the journey we take in life. In darkness we see storms, clouds, and then suddenly we see the light and deep deep down in our hearts it brings us comfort.  

Hi everyone. Its been too long since I have been blogging away and I am going to start posting more and more and catch up to speed with everything. I have been up and down on an emotional eventful roller coaster the last few months, and cant wait to express everything that has happened. The title says it all! Yes a few weeks ago I took my girl for a mini holiday to the beautiful serenity of the alpine regions of Bright Victoria, yet little did she know I was going to propose to her. Jessica said yes such powerful emotions and love was shown that holiday and having such a terrible year an engagement and planning a wedding is enough to emotionally defeat the evils of cancer. The miracle of love ay. We have been dating for a long time and saying I love you all the time it was finally great to put that into concrete so planning an engagement party and a wedding has put me into a good emotional head space. Yet even though planning it I am now up to my 3rd cycle of Chemothearpy treatment

I'm sitting here having a cup of coffee as I have been up since 4am feeling terrible from my cycle 2 round of chemotherapy, and knowing I have 5 more cycles till October this year to go really mixes with my emotions and physical strength. Having an intense week of meeting with my oncology Doctor and a MRI and chemotherapy at nighttime gets all too much for my brain to process from time to time. I'm mentally exhausted. Only so much coffee and movies you can watch, therefor I draw strength from immediate family and friends and my partner Jessica. My MRI this week was 'stable', with signs of residual tumor. It look more obvious than last time and the scary thing is that it can grow. At the moment its too hard to operate to remove that and its in a tricky part of the brain. Oh my gosh! The thought of going back to surgery means going back to square one. It's scary, terrifying and horrific to even think about, but gotta deal with it when the time comes and count the bl

'Not all those who wander are lost'. One of my most favourite quotes by JRR Tolkien (Author of Lord of the Rings Trilogy). I think it is actually means a lot in my situation. I find some days in between treatments often find myself lost. I wish I could have more treatment, I get anxious not knowing if it is really working, or what the future holds. I see my friends going to to Uni, or starting new jobs and I was supposed to be in their shoes? However, I must not reflect on that and go down my Cancer Journey path. I feel lost as know one really I know personally has gone though what I am going through exactly, a person who has GBM. Recently met a few guys who have had cancer and it did feel really comforting. I knew exactly what they were saying, the emotions, the experiences, the lost of friends and family, and the lost of their own personal self. You will never be the same person ever again, and I feel not the same person, but too be honest I am loving this version of myself

(I am writing this now, as my dog as unfortunately surprised and shocked me as I had to rush him to Veterinary surgery this lunchtime as I found him in the lounge room with blood everywhere, he is now fighting for his life with a serious heart problem, infectious mouth disease and gastro, all of a sudden) Ever since I have come home from surgery, my best friend, my companion for over 11 years has notice the changes in me. Charlie has always been affectionate and protective of me, but ever since I was diagnosed for no joke he has become more affectionate and aware of what's going on. When I first came home from surgery, a few nights I would be woken up by Charlie licking my scar. Worried about me and seeing what he can do to help. When I first started radiotherapy and the chemotherapy cycle 1 treatment he started to become more clingy. The chemotherapy toxic tablets I was taking I had to do it in a specific cycle in the morning. 7am to 9am without fail. After a few times, with

4 weeks of no radiotherapy and Chemotherapy. It's like a small dose of Heaven. Being touched based with the world again and being bendable. What does a cancer warrior do in his time off? Despite the body detoxing the toxins and crap out of the body, he finds his place in the world again. Sure I have to go into hospital for the clinical trial but that is a great day. Better than a birthday or Christmas, a chance to save my life. 2 weeks ago I promised my partner Jessica if my MRI came back stable we would celebrate. I promised her we would spend a few nights in the city (praying I'm physically well) and be a couple again. No cancer talks, no appointments just an appointment in a beautiful hotel and a restaurant along south bank. Tell you what my MRI came back stable and we were fully over the moon. It was our 1 year anniversary this year but couldn't celebrate it due to bring in hospital however I have been saving up for nearly the whole year for that occ

Last Saturday night was a party of a lifetime for me. Words cannot describe how blessed I am to have have wonderful family and friends attend the event and the businesses and people who I've never met come down and celebrate my life and help raise money and awareness of my fight against GBM. It still shows that there are some amazing people in this world, who are willing to give rather than recieve. I think this life has so many good people and you know what? Good things happen to good people too! My wonderful sister Sarah, brother in law Michael and my other amazing sister Amanda organised an Fundraiser to help support myself and my family to raise money to help with expensive medical treatment and help raise money to help me through this Clinical Trail I am on. I love you guys so much, to Heaven and Earth and back! This amazing night was held at the Hidden Valley Golf & Country Club with around 250 people attending with lots of auction prizes, raffles and the amazing Crossw

''Do you ever wonder if we make the moments in our lives or the moments in our lives make us? Ever wonder how long it takes to change your life? What measure of time is enough to be life-altering? Is it four years, like high school? One year? An eight-week walking tour? Can your life change in a month, or a week, or a single day? We're always in a hurry to grow up, to go places, to get ahead…but when you're young, one hour can change everything… '' Over easter this year, very much came to a halt for me. Both the chemotherapy and radiotherapy all came up at once and felt ever so sick over the easter break, but still manage to find strength in my heart to see my sister celebrate her birthday, it was just so awesome to do something so 'normal' and very special at the same time. I'm coming to an home run at the moment with my first cycle of treatment and then I can't wait for my much needed break for 2 weeks, depending on a stable MRI result. I jus

It's been a while since I've checked in and made another post. Feels good to have some time now to catch up on some things after some weeks of chemo and radio. Slowly catching up to me now. Feeling really sick in the morning with the toxic chemo drugs and face burns from the radiant heat from radiation. But now I'm finally halfway through week 5 and getting closer to my MRI scan to check up on progress next month. My next MRI will determinate alot of things. I am constantly praying that if I have any regrowth of any tumor, I will go back to square one. If there isn't a tumor, Praise God and I will go straight into a clinical trail. Lots of prayers and positive energy I ask please. If everything goes according to plan, and during the clinical trail no more radiothearpy, however my chemothearpy will be increased with a higher double dosage. Everything is so fast paced with routines. Chemothearpy, Radio, Doctors Appointments, etc etc really ties you're time and day u

Hi everyone! I would like to take this oppurtinity to thank my family, friends and my oncology team for getting this far into week 4 of treatment, and the amazing support behind everything. Such as the fundraiser event which is happening in April and all the generous, kind, beautiful people who have donated money for my treatment and oppurtinity for a clinical trail. Words can't express the word thank-you enough, you have all touched my heart deeply in ways I can't express. To my wonderful family in the UK for organizing a fundraiser night and the buggy run with the mummies you are all amazing! You know who you are. I thank-you. To all my family and friends on Facebook thanks for following me and supporting me! Week 4 of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and the hair is gone! Bits of hair left but will slowly fall out. Feeling more nauseated in the mornings and feeling really hot at nigh time, face turns red after dinner and the drugs kicking in. The journey isn't over ye

14th March 2013 It's like in that movie '50/50' a young man who is diagnosed with cancer and is asked 'Are you feeling numb'? Meeting and speaking to various people around the world who have/had cancer have this numb feeling and to be honest it sucks. Doing the odd 'normal' thing like making a cup of tea or sitting outside watching the view or going for a car ride and thinking at the same time 'I have cancer?' I can kinda understand what the 'numb' feeling is. Don't know if you're going to die anyday or with my situation go mental in the head, unxpecting the unexpected really. You have awesome days like today I got to go with my awesome amazing sister to radiothearpy and go out for lunch and days when you want to vent out as much as you can, but hey isn't it healthy? Each day is milestone and I'm doing okay. My face is starting to really hurt with the radiation and my hair is slowly coming out. If it wasn't for my fami

After being told about my cancer it was time to put words into action. The plan is that I have a 9month treatment involving both radiotherapy and chemotherapy. These two type of methods work best with GBM patients. A long road ahead but never hopeless as I thought. The survival depends on my effort and two way street relationship with the medical team and my emotional mind and spiritual faith. I do radiotherapy at the Epping Medical Specialist Centre here in Victoria. A wonderful dedicated team of professionals who are passionate about saving lives. It really makes all the difference. I do radiotherapy in the afternoons after chemotherapy so by after lunch time I am really exhausted and feeling physically and emotionally drained. Especially they are 'laser' pointing towards my head. But over the last 2 weeks into the progress my body is handling really good it's just when week 3,4,5 I will start to get really sick. (A tight mask is fitted to my face so my doesn't mo

Everyone has those moments in life when you don't forget things. You're 18th birthday, first car or first time you fallen in love. Those sheer moments in life also we experience are moments of pain or devastation. January 26th was definitely not a Saturday morning sleep in as Mum and Dad came to the hospital to see me and have the meeting with the surgeon to discuss the pathology of the Tumor and to see if it was non-cancerous or cancerous. Realistically the last few days I have been emotionally preferring for both circumstances. As it was early morning finished breakfast and was speaking to Mum and Dad about everything. "Whatever it is we will get through it together".  The neurosurgeon arrived and we started speaking. The conversation started positively saying it was a successful surgery with 100% of the Tumor removed (such a blessing) and no complications. However the Tumor has left cancer cells and under the microscope the cells are cancer. The cells are known a

The longest night ever was in ICU expected to be there for another three days was going to be hell. It's a horrible place, small window next to you and patients around you who are much worse off than you gives you pain. Had a really nice nurse standing by me watching closely. The night felt like forever and all I wanted was to see my family. In ICU visiting hours weren't allowed to 11am in the morning and already wanting to see my family at 2am, 4am etc etc. I remember being x-rayed on my chest and was thrilled that I didn't have to move at all really. Amazing! Two lovely gentleman had a portable one. The reason why I was getting x-rayed on my chest is because I dropped dead for 2 minutes during surgery due to lack of oxygen to the brain. Anyway time went by and I started regaining strength. Was able to start drinking by 5am and went into a good sleep. Woke up around 7am and met with the neurosurgeon who was so impressed with the progress with me. Blood pressure was fan

Alot of this is from memory. I was laying in bed the night before surgery anxiously feeling scared. Why not? But I was kinda excited and happy the wait was finally going to be over and I can get somewhere. But more thoughts came and I couldn't sleep. I kept waking up my partner Jessica up in the night as I was fearful of what could happen. Kept pacing up and down. I remember a bible verse that came to me from when I was in College saying "Be still and know that I am God" as soon as this came to mind I prayed. I manage to get some sleep thank The Lord. I had to be up by 5:45am and all cleaned up and ready to go. Alarm went off and Jessica and I got up. No food or drink and it hit me. This was the moment. 50/50 chance. I am having surgery the shocking moment of realization that I am having major surgery and I won't see my family for maybe 3 days or so and I will be in Intense Care Unit. As time went my mother and father who graciously stayed at a hotel next door came

The second day of being in the oncology unit at 10am I had to meet with the neurosurgeon who was going to discuss the surgery. The surgeon walks into my room and I am already impressed with his professionalism and care towards me. Checks my eyes and head and then talks about what a tumor is and how serious of a situation I am in. In fact that he will need to speak to his team and strategically and tactically plan this major operation over 5 days. With constant MRI and CT scans with contrast which I'm allergic too and counted up having over 27 injections before surgery checking for  Hormones Sodium Blood Cells Etc I can't remember.  The neurosurgeon wanted to see me on the Tuesday the day before surgery which was a Wednesday in his office with my family to discuss the operation in full detailed. So over the next couple of days I spent in Hospital with my family who would come and visit me and then I was transferred to the Neuroscience  neurology ward where they treat pat

Thought I'd share with you some of the MRI scans of my tumor. Instead of making an extensive blog this time I would like to be visual with you all. These images are of the tumor that was located in my frontal lobe of my brain on the right hand side. SAG BRAIN POST GAD (with contrast) - Scary MRI scan of my Tumor expanded over 5 days The wonderful Epworth Hospital Richmond Melbourne,that saved my life. The Surgeons, Doctors, Nurses and other staff were wonderful to me over the time I was admitted in. The small acts of kindness they provided me was bespoke and sheer class of professionalism isn't noted in today's society as it should be. The long hours they delicate their life to save and help others is speechless.

Friday 18th January 2013 Rushed into the Emergency Department at the Epworth Hospital and anxiously waiting for the Triage nurse to see me. As I have had a referral from my Doctor to get an immediate MRI scan. However it being a Friday it was packed and we went in at around 3:30pm and waited a long while. The only seat I could get was next to a vending machine and the sound of it was thumbing my head-away. About 2 hours of waiting we manage to get called up and put into a cubable. Without further questioned the Nurse got me to gown up and lay on the bed untill the Emergency Doctor could see me. Moments later the Emergency Doctor saw me and asked the standard questions. Who are you? What is youre problem? I explained that I have been giving headaches or migraines. The Doctor must of thought this is a typical thing on a Friday evening for a 19 year old. Asked if I have been drinking or been doing anything stupid lately. I then handed him the referral and the questions kept following.

Christmas and New Years has passed and I walked into the new Year of 2013 with joy and happiness. This was going to be my year. I moved out into an awesome apartment, enrolled into doing Film & Television, going to make some new friends, lots of parting and I am closer to my partner Jessica as we have a long distance relationship. I couldn't wait to start University as I didn't do VCE and it was a miracle that I got into it as a mature aged student but I battled the system for 4 years working for businesses and creating a profile for myself. Around Friday 5th January I was starting to feel the head problems again. But this time I couldn't contain myself. Even the sound of the air conditioner was making me going crazy. I remember this really well, because I was still kinda convinced I had sinus in my head. So I was using old ancient remedies such as Eucalyptus oil in a hot steam bowl with towel. It really did make a difference for about an hour. I would hop into the sh

December. I still have continuous pain in the front of my head. One morning I would wake up around 7:30am and walk towards the kitchen and I barely could eat breakfast. I would have to make a decision to cancel going into Tafe as I was enrolled in Certificate IV in Training & Assessment. As soon as I would make a call to cancel class, and I would go back to bed and treat it like a migraine. I then would wake up around 5pm or 6pm in the afternoon. This wasn't normal. I am not a person to sleep during the whole day, infact I almost despise sleep as I am so into being active during the day. However as soon as I wake up, I would feel amazing. I would eat heaps and get into my car and drive for hours as I have a huge passion for automotive world. Come home and go to bed. The same routine would happen every 2-3 days and I just couldn't understand why. So I decided to see my local GP to follow up on my Fatty Liver situation. I saw my GP and we had a conversation that I'm exp

Wow! I am actually blessed I can write words and still remember them after major intense surgery. But that is another chapter we can discuss later during this time where I can share my story and use this as a place to tell my friends and family what I went through, going through and what I am about to go through. My name is Thomas Scrivens, 20 years old and been living an awesome life. Great family, blessed as a child always had food, shelter, holidays and an brilliant education. In 2012 I found myself leaving a RTO (Tafe Organization) as an IT Assistant and then started my own small business creating custom made websites for businesses which I thoroughly enjoyed until I couldn't handle the stress and decided to work for my Father which was awesome. My parents were building their new house at the time and I had just recently moved out to my new smashing apartment in Winsdor/St Kilda area which is a Student Unilodge for students to study. Yes that's right I was enrolled to fol