“You’re never alone.” 17th annual Kitchener-Waterloo Brain Tumour Walk today
Posted Jun 10, 2018 08:09:02 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s a way for those living with a brain tumour, or those who know someone suffering to share with the community and know they are not alone.
Starting at 10:00 Sunday morning, the 17th annual Kitchener-Waterloo Brain Tumour Walk will get underway at Waterloo Park.
Walkers have the choice of taking the 2.5 km or 5 km route.
Traci Chambers will be one of the many lacing up for the walk. She has acoustic neuroma, a rare brain tumour that affects one in 100,000 people.
This kind of tumour has many side effects including hearing loss, vertigo, and loss of balance.
Calling herself “one of the lucky ones,” Chambers says the process has been an overwhelming and at times, scary experience.
‘It’s been a bit of a long road, quite a few MRIs, different specialists…just last month I had gamma knife surgery which is a type of radiation, hopefully to stop any further growth and perhaps maybe, if I’m lucky, shrink it…what happens with these types of tumours is that they grow closer to the brain stem and can actually press on the brain stem when they get large.”
Right now Chambers is waiting on results from that surgery.
Despite all this, she remains positive and says days like today are extremely important for any brain tumour survivor.
She says the Brain Tumour foundation and her family have been key in helping her cope with not only the diagnosis but the countless trips to the hospital as well.
“I found hope when I walked into the head office of the Brain Tumour Foundation in London. I was greeted by the kind staff that provided appropriate resources, answered questions and offered a hug and said ‘yes, you are in the right place.’ The diagnosis has physically changed me as I’ve had to adjust to hearing loss, tinnitus and balance issues. I’ve learned to be kinder to myself and respect my limitations, I’ve also become a stronger person, learning to self-advocate and to make appropriate decisions regarding my health care based on what I believe to be right for me, such as seeking second opinions.”
More information on support resources and how you can donate to the Brain Tumour Foundation can be found on their website.
