Brain Tumor (Not me ...)

[rainsux]

A pilot acquaintance confessed that he's been absent since Sept to due
surgery to remove a 3 cm tumor (half a golf ball) that was pressing against
his brain. Blood/enzyme and pathology reports both say malignant.

Never had a seizure or black-out. Just increasingly worse head aches until
he decided that his maybe his chiro's advice to "get a MRI right now" was
plausible advice.

The surgeon says he got it all, but cannot prove it. Also says he'll never hear
"cancer-free" or "remission." What's ahead? Chemo 5x/month for all of 2012.

My acquaintance wants to return to the cockpit. Is his future now limited to
Glider and Sport Pilot? Or, less?

 

[Geico266]

That is tough. Tell your buddy to hang in there.

What's ahead? Life, until it is gone.

 

[Gary F]

Fly with another pilot, never alone in any aircraft.

 

[bbchien]

I am returning to service a USCG LCDr this month after two years down. The limiting factor is that "blood on the brain" (e.g, surgery) is a stimulus to epilepsy (lowers the seizure threshold for stimuli) and the precise end of that phenomenon isn't clear. Additionally, a lot of tumors and tumor residua announce themselves...with a seizure.

We used the federal neurologic consultant externally to the application process, got his written endorsement, and pushed it through.

The next question: did they put the friend on an seizure meds (as a precaution)? That delays the two year clock, and it's two years if EVERYTHING GOES WELL.

He should let his medical expire until then. LSAs only if the specialist docs think it's okay.

 

[Doggtyred]

Both Gary and Bruce are focusing on the fact that brain surgery sometimes results in a seizure disorder that persists after surgery. It's hard to predict. But when it happens it's the textbook definition of incapacitation.

I'd tell your friend not to use the tub or swim alone either.