Written by Anne Kelly
Like many people with brain cancer, receiving my diagnosis was a huge shock. I didn’t realize I had any health issues until I had a seizure in September 2024. My husband, Kevin, rushed me to the Emergency Room, only four miles away. The ER team responded quickly to my condition. After their initial assessment, I was promptly taken for a CT scan, followed by an MRI that revealed a tumor in my right frontal lobe. The MRI was then followed by a PET scan to check for cancer elsewhere. That scan showed no other cancers, indicating this brain growth was a primary tumor. Everything seemed to happen very swiftly. With the scan results, a neurosurgeon explained that I needed a craniotomy to remove the tumor and take a biopsy. My family and I were in shock. Until then, I was a healthy, active person, working as a registered nurse and attending Divinity School full-time to earn my second master’s degree. Now I was a patient.
The next shock was the diagnosis: Glioblastoma. I had never heard of Glioblastoma, so I looked it up, like many patients do, and found out that this type of brain cancer is incurable and aggressive. About 15,000 people are diagnosed with Glioblastoma each year, and most live 12 to 18 months after diagnosis. Receiving this diagnosis and prognosis was overwhelming, to say the least. My life, along with my family’s, changed suddenly.
Radiation and chemotherapy follow the craniotomy. These three treatments have been the standard care for Glioblastoma and have remained mostly unchanged for twenty years. Collaborating with organizations like Head for the Cure is essential for raising awareness, promoting new brain cancer treatments, and advocating for patients.
I am now ten months past my diagnosis. I have completed radiation and chemotherapy treatments. I take life one day at a time, living as fully as I can—letting go of things that no longer matter. I love my life and treasure the time I spend with family and friends. I thoroughly enjoy walking the hilly path in my neighborhood, which I used to walk before my cancer diagnosis. Now, I am filled with gratitude for how far I have come since that day in September when my life changed dramatically. This fall, I returned to the highly regarded Campbell University Divinity School, a deeply supportive, faith-building community. Some patients with Glioblastoma beat the odds and live for years. While I am doing everything I can to do the same, I am at peace with God’s will for my life. I hope I use my time wisely to do what I strived to do as a nurse: advocate for the well-being of others.
Through challenges and changes, I have leaned on my faith. My faith is the most vital part of who I am. I have been told I am brave and positive, which I appreciate – I know it’s because I walk with Christ, and He will provide everything I need for this journey. I am so grateful to have my incredible family, a strong network of friends and supporters, and a highly skilled clinical team.
I knew I wanted to serve my new community of people with brain cancer. I learned about the Head for the Cure 5K race from my neuro-oncologist. My family and I formed a team called Team Day by Day. On a crisp, clear day in January 2025, I wore the gray T-shirt, signifying that I am a survivor. I had not thought of myself as a survivor in the chaos of everything. The race and the Head for the Cure community have been crucial in helping me build a new life as someone living and thriving with brain cancer. Communities are essential in this way, providing a safe space for people to redefine their lives and find new meaning and allies in their cancer journey. I am honored to serve as an ambassador for the Head for the Cure Foundation and to help in any way I can.