Music to a mother’s ears: Awake craniotomies bring musicians together
Witnessing her adult son, Adrian, suffer a severe seizure at their home in the Rio Grande Valley during the spring of 2022 was nerve-wracking. Finding out a few months later that it was caused by a brain tumor called astrocytoma was devastating.
But when Gloria Rivas learned that Adrian’s neurosurgeon, Sujit Prabhu, M.D., wanted to perform an awake craniotomy on her son to treat it, she was astonished.
“It absolutely...
‘How I knew I had a brain tumor’: 4 survivors share their symptoms
Headaches and seizures are common brain tumor symptoms. But they can also be caused by other medical conditions.
So, how can you tell...
Guitarist’s awake craniotomy video strikes a chord with drummer facing similar diagnosis
When Adrian Rivas needed brain surgery, his doctors suggested he not only be awake in the middle of his procedure but that he also play the...
Young adult astrocytoma survivor grateful for MD Anderson's expertise
“Other doctors felt they could not operate,” says Sean O’Brien, an astrocytoma survivor. But MD Anderson neurosurgeon Frederick Lang, M.D., successfully removed Sean’s brain tumor.
During Sean’s sophomore year of college, he began experiencing intense headaches and other symptoms. “I couldn’t sleep properly, I stopped going to classes, and if I moved too quickly, my vision would go out,” recalls Sean, now 30. “I’d get tunnel vision...
What is astrocytoma, and how is it different from glioblastoma?
Astrocytoma and glioblastoma are two types of brain tumors. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) changed how these tumors are classified...
Brain tumor survivor thanks MD Anderson for second chance at life
On Oct. 29, 2022, David Irwin woke up in a hospital, groggy and confused. It was his 39th birthday, but it was clear this was no celebration...
Aspiring radiation oncologist faces astrocytoma
Ever since high school, Ethan Damron has wanted to be a radiation oncologist. In July 2019, he and his wife, Kendra, moved to Houston so Ethan...
Astrocytoma survivor: Why I chose MD Anderson for treatment
I believe everything happens for a reason. So, when I was diagnosed with anaplastic astrocytoma — an aggressive type of brain cancer — in...
Astrocytoma survivor: I feel lucky
How often does a brain tumor save your life? In Kellilyn Monar’s case, it may have done just that. She’d planned to be at the Route 91 Music...
Why a brain tumor survivor brought his guitar into the OR
When Robert Alvarez was diagnosed with a low-grade insular brain tumor in 2013, he decided to hope for the best and postpone treatment.