Glioblastoma is a type of brain cancer. It's the most common type of malignant brain tumor among adults. And it is usually very aggressive, which means it can grow fast and spread quickly. Unfortunately, there is no cure at this time. 

Inspire member Tom was diagnosed with this form of cancer in November of 2018 and was stunned by the news. But Tom quickly realized there was some wisdom for him. He learned, "We can't control what happens to each of us in our lives, but we do have total control over how we choose to respond to those events."

Read the rest of Tom's story and learn more about the power of positive mental attitude (PMA).

WOW: I have terminal brain cancer. It was unexpected and stunning news.

I became an Inspire member in November 2018, when I was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer (GBM4 aka Glioblastoma multiforme grade 4). This particular cancer is a formidable and ferocious beast of a disease, with an average patient life expectancy of 12-18 months. I was told that treatments (radiation, chemo, tumor removal, brain surgery) might add some additional months to my life. 

I first thought, wow, I have terminal brain cancer. It was unexpected and stunning news. I pondered how I was supposed to react to this situation. I knew that it was a life-or-death situation. What was different is that it was my life or death!

At age 61, I had many life experiences and obtained significant wisdom along the way. My style as a child, student, husband, parent, employee, manager, and small business owner was a joyful, grateful man in good situations. And as a glass half full, stay calm, make lemonade from lemons style in challenging situations. 

When brain surgery was strongly recommended in the next 10 days after the tumor was found, I knew that this was really serious. An excellent Johns Hopkins brain surgeon removed a lemon-sized tumor, confirming the cancer diagnosis (GBM4).

Two days after the successful surgery to remove the tumor from my brain, I was released to go home to begin my recovery. This was the first time I had a chance to absorb what was really happening to me. I knew that cancer treatment came next on my new health journey—six weeks of targeted brain radiation, concurrent with daily oral chemotherapy pills, to be followed by 6 months of more oral chemotherapy pills; then, surveillance MRIs of my brain every 2-3 months, to determine if the cancer had recurred as a new tumor. 

In those first six months of treatment, I had to take stock of what had happened to me. It was shocking and sudden. It was disorienting and scary. A cancer diagnosis and its treatment were all new and unwelcome. None of this had been part of my life plan for 2019.

The realities of a terminal diagnosis

At age 61, I was a local small business owner providing family income and health benefits. It required lots of my personal involvement in billing, sales, marketing, and employee oversight. 

I realized I could comfortably retire if I sold my small business. I completed a business sale in July 2019. Next, I focused on maintaining excellent health benefits. Instead of panicking, I became educated on my options. I discovered I was eligible for full Social Security disability benefits and Medicare. This solved my income and benefits concerns. Having both in place was such a relief, and I was so grateful.

However, I quickly realized that having a terminal disease meant getting my affairs in order. This included having all the necessary documents prepared by my attorney. It also meant making all the end-of-life medical care decisions. My wife of 40 years was on board with doing all of this together while I was still able. 

We also bought gravesites locally and prepaid for our funerals and services. We viewed it as a gift to our four adult children. It is quite humbling to plan for one’s own death. My wife and I both felt good having that task done.

The next meeting was with our financial advisor, who gave us great advice. Now, my wife has a complete understanding of our family's financial situation. That makes her more prepared for living without me around. This was another task that I was so happy to have completed.

I also started a binder for my wife of things I handle that she may not know about. These included our cable TV plans and our frequent flyer miles accounts. There was a lot of detail to get on paper for her. I also bought a password manager and confirmed that she could access all family online and internet accounts. It amazed me how many of these types of accounts and passwords that we had accumulated. Once this was done, I felt great one more time. And these binders had tons of knowledge I could transfer to her before I wasn’t around.

Getting all these affairs in order could have been depressing as I could have complained during it. Instead, I chose to be positive and approach it as a giant gift of love to my wonderful, loving spouse.

To keep the benefits of being positive in the face of great adversity going, I realized this health journey added new wisdom for me. I have learned that we can’t control what happens to each of us in our lives, but we have total control over how we respond to those events.

I now choose to be upbeat, optimistic, and positive whenever I can. I even choose to be nice and polite to telemarketers.

Worry less, love more, live freely, and lastly, adapt to your realities

When I shared my brain cancer story with family and friends, I highlighted that I would do everything possible to achieve positive outcomes, even though I had this dire prognosis. I would listen to the advice and wisdom of my experienced cancer doctors. I asked them what a patient should do to help make my outcome better. Some other suggestions were to keep living my life as normal as possible. Spend time doing things I enjoyed for as long as I could.

I crossed the four-and-a-half year milestone of living with a GBM4 diagnosis. I am now approaching the five-year survival milestone around Thanksgiving. The statistics say that only about 5% of patients reach five years alive, and 1% reach 10 years.

I am often asked what am I doing to beat these odds?  The short answer is I am choosing to joyfully live each of my days to their fullest.

At this point in my health journey, I call myself a BRAIN Cancer THRIVER.

I am now wholly focused on doing what is important in life. Spending quality time with my family is key. I am a good patient who takes all meds and attends all appointments. I take care of myself. I listen to my body and sleep when it says it is tired. I eat smartly and exercise.

I have developed a 7-word lifestyle that focuses me. I think of this mantra every morning, and I try to live these words daily. I share them with each of you for your use.

WORRY LESS, LOVE MORE, LIVE FREELY, and lastly, ADAPT to your realities.

I have adapted to my health reality of having GBM4. I also have chosen to be positive, even when I may not feel that way. I also tell others I can’t complain, but sometimes I still do. 

I choose to laugh and have fun as often as I can. I decide to help others as I am able.

And as Tim McGraw so eloquently wrote and sings, I live like I am dying. I firmly believe that my positivity has been a huge asset and contributor to my positive outcomes so far. Of course, it is not easy to do, but I choose to keep on trucking with my Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) set “very high.”

I hope I have inspired you to give positivity a chance in your lifestyle as you live each of your remaining todays to their fullest. My wish for all of you is to have as much peace, love, hope, joy, and gratitude in your life as possible.

All the best,

Tom Burtzlaff

To connect with Tom, add him as a friend on his member profile.