Positivity is THE Essential Ingredient
“My mom was like ‘Absolutely not, we are not telling a child he has 6 months left to live,’ which I think played a huge role in [me] staying positive.” There are miracles, and then there are things that happen that make your jaw drop to the floor. David Fitting’s life is one such thing. David is one of the longest surviving patients of glioblastoma in America, beating all the odds stacked against him since he was a child. He is joining Amber Barbach on Glioblastoma aka GBM to talk about his experience as a three-time survivor, how the support of his friends and family pushed him through, and the importance of being your own advocate.
Hear us talk about:
David’s first diagnosis. David was a healthy child who never got sick, until he got sick. When he was 10, he started getting headaches and deja vu so bad they caused him to vomit - even touching his head induced severe pain. Taking him to a pediatrician resulted in a CT scan that showed a brain tumor. After taking many other tests and being admitted to the hospital, David was scheduled for a surgery to remove his tumor, and it was successful - so successful that the neurosurgeon claimed it was the easiest surgery he had ever done, because the tumor fell out of his skull due to its fully encapsulated nature. The pathology of the tumor revealed that it was stage four glioblastoma, and the doctor’s diagnosis was that David would only have six more months to live. His mother informed him of his cancer, but refused to let the doctor tell David that his days were numbered.
The return of the tumor. David’s headaches and deja vu episodes came back with a vengeance, and it was discovered that the tumor had returned, bigger than it was before. Surgery was performed, but his chance of survival was even lower this time. Not one to be deterred, David’s mother thanked the doctors and respectfully decided to get a second opinion. She searched high and low for a way to not bury her child, and came into contact with one of the longest glioblastoma survivors, who referred her to Duke. He was put in a clinical trial for a new type of treatment, and the positive attitudes of everyone around him kept him grounded and stable. He gradually got better, to the point where his MRI checkups changed from every six weeks to if he felt something come back.
More cancer. The year was 2019, and David started getting pain in his jaw. At first thinking it was TMJ, he went to a specialist who told him he had a severe underbite and needed total jaw realignment surgery. Knowing that underbites were either hereditary or caused by a severe contact injury, none of which applied to him, he got a second opinion, which led to an MRI. The MRI showed that there was a tumor the size of a baseball at the base of his skull. He had a biopsy done, and it revealed that it was radiation induced osteosarcoma that was induced from radiation he had 16 years prior for GBM. Experiencing chemotherapy as an adult was a stark difference from when he was a child. There were moments where he faltered in spirit, but he quickly snapped out of the ‘why me’ spiral.
Being your own advocate. If a surgeon or doctor says something to you that you don’t agree with, just know that there are millions of them on the planet - you are bound to find one that’s willing to help you. Don’t just roll over and accept whatever you’re told.
Finding positivity. It is absolutely essential in the midst of any adversity to find positivity, David shares. Some people might handle it through humor, meditation, exercise - as long as you find an outlet to channel what you're feeling into something positive, you will feel more complete. “Cancer is already going to change your life as it is through your health, but it doesn't have to change who you are spiritually or mentally, emotionally.”
What’s Next?
David Fitting is an ambassador for the Glioblastoma Research Organization, who has given hope to people all around the world. He’s passionate about motivational speaking and sharing his story to inspire others.
As always, the information that is discussed in Glioblastoma AKA GBM is not meant to treat or diagnose any disease. What we and our guests share are personal stories of what has worked for the individuals in question, and should not be taken as medical advice or opinion, and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you have any questions about your own situation, always consult with your medical provider and healthcare team.
HOOKS
Intense deja vu is a common symptom of glioblastoma, and is actually temporal lobe epilepsy.
Don’t throw in the towel when a doctor says something you don’t like - be your own advocate, and find a doctor who’s willing to help you.
It is essential to find positivity in the midst of any adversity.
