I have had the occasional focal seizure since I was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2004. I had a partial resection followed by radiation and TMZ in 2019.
Over the past nine months, the frequency has increased. Yesterday my neuro onc prescribed Vimpat (50 mg 2x/day). My pharmacy had to order the medication so I will be starting it in a few days.
Does anyone here have any experiences with Vimpat that they’d be willing to share?
At this time, May 9, 2019, I was undergoing an awake craniotomy to evict Pierre, my Grade 2 astrocytoma brain tumor.
I was told by my team at Cleveland Clinic that I’d had a near complete resection, but because they couldn’t get it all I would need radiation and a year of chemotherapy. I would learn a few years later after I transferred my care from CCF to UH that CCF lied to me. They were only able to resect 10 to 15% of the tumor and to have attempted more would have been catastrophic. 
I had been told by CCF that I would probably have 5 to 7 years left. My team at UH agreed with that assessment.
For better or worse (and I change my opinion on this from day to day), I beat that estimate. Tomorrow officially marks the beginning of Year 8.
Tonight before I go to bed, I will raise a glass to toast the experiences I’ve been able to have since that day, as well as the memories I’ve made with Hayden. And at the same time I’ll cry about all I’ve lost and will never have.
Truly. Honestly. Fuck Cancer.