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Brain Tumors/Sister with GBM - Blank Stares

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Expert: Jeremy Oldham - 10/5/2006


Question
My 51-year old sister has GBM (first diagnosed in January as Grade I - II Astrocytoma, then re-diagnosed in mid-May as Grade IV GBM) and elected not to have treatment.  She had a grand mal seizure yesterday afternoon, then last evening a period where she opened her eyes very wide and stared at the ceiling without blinking for about 30 minutes.  Again around midnight, she opened her eyes and kept them open for about 3 hours, staring straight up at the ceiling but not looking around.  During this time she rubbed the left side of her head (the side where the tumor is) but otherwise made no movement or sound and didn't even blink.  Is this a type of seizure she is having?  She fell asleep after that and hasn't responded to anything since.

Answer
Dear Lora,
 Thank you for your question.  Seizures come in different varieties.  Petite Mall, Grand Mall, Complex Partial, and others. I do not know your sisters complete medical case and history, so I'm sorry but this is all I can tell you not having more information.

Best Regards,

Jeremy M. Oldham  

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Jeremy Oldham

Expertise

Advocacy, Research, Public Relations, and Community Awareness.

Experience

I am a two-time survivor of brain cancer. At ages 11 and 23 I was diagnosed with Low Grade Astrocytomas. This was the motivation I needed to devote my time and effort to studying and researching this disease to help others have the same success I did. Because the questions I have asked over the years, are questions you may ask also, and the credible answers I received are answers you may need as well. *note* I am not a Medical Doctor, Neurologist, or Neurosurgeon. I am a brain cancer advocate. I have done countless hours of independent research and kept myself up-to-date concerning the latest treatment methods, medications, treatment facilities, and consumer ratings of the professionals in the field, by continuously reading the most recent journals and publications by other brain cancer experts.

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My education is my experience and devotion. "Experience is the hardest teacher; it gives the test first and the lesson afterward." My continued devotion to increased understanding and being a proponent of community information puts me in a unique position to share with others the wisdom I have gained.

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