Do you know what Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is? Neither did I until just recently. My mother just found out that she has GBM which is a cancerous brain tumor. The GBM tumor is a very aggressive and rapid growing tumor that causes pressure on the brain. This pressure results in headaches, speech impairment, loss of short-term memory, personality changes, seizures and weakness.

This shocking revelation lead my mother to the neurological surgery where they removed two tumors, the larger one was the size of a substantial Mandarin orange. The surgery to debulk the tumor was successful and the pressure on the brain was reduced. She is now undergoing radiation therapy in hopes to put the tumor to sleep and maintain a high quality of life for the 8 to 12 months the doctors have given her.

I write about this subject, and how it has devastated my family, with one message in mind. The old adage about ‘living in the moment’ has never become truer for me. Bills, work, time, traffic and pressing responsibilities often consume us and rob us of living in the moment and appreciating the pleasures of life.

I would encourage you to break this ‘busy cycle’ by making time for yourself and your family to enjoy the pleasures in life. Try some gardening, play games with your children, call your parents, pick up a hobby or start a sport.

Take the time to enjoy the wonders of life as you just never know how long you really have. In my mother’s case, the cancerous tumor grew to its life threatening size in under three months. Her story is not unique and I am certain that you have a family member or friend who has battled cancer. It is a challenging disease but there are things that you can do to help prevent it by:

-Ensuring that you have a nutritional and high fibre diet (intestinal cancers)
-Quit or do not start smoking (lung cancer)
-Minimizing alcohol (liver cancer)
-Protecting yourself from the sun (skin cancer)
-Monthly self examinations (breast and testicular cancer)
- Maintaining an active and fit lifestyle (cardiovascular diseases)

Once again I encourage you to enjoy life, family and friendships to their fullest. Whether living with cancer or not; being active, eating healthy and taking care of yourself are the keys to enjoying life. Have you taken time for yourself today?