Symptoms of Medulloblastoma

The most common symptoms that occur with the development of medulloblastoma include:

-behavioral changes (mood changes)
-changes in appetite
-unusual eye movement
-symptoms connected to an increased pressure in the brain caused by the tumor:

• headache
• nausea
• vomiting 
• drowsiness
• coordination problems 

Some of these symptoms can be difficult to recognize, especially in children. It is not uncommon for young children to experience mood swings (happy one second, throwing a tantrum the next). It also is fairly common for young children to frequently change their favorite foods and to refuse to eat what's in front of them. In Matt's case, they were able to pick up on the symptoms of coordination problems and behavioral changes. He was normally always so optimistic and kind and he was very athletic and coordinated, so in his instance they were fairly easy to pick up on.

Additionally, many diagnosed with medulloblastoma end up undergoing some form of surgery and radiation. There are several different symptoms/side effects that one can experience after undergoing radiation. The two most common symptoms experienced are skin problems (dryness, itching, blistering, peeling) and fatigue (constant tiredness/exhaustion that does not improve with rest). There are also some more serious long-term side effects that can happen after undergoing radiation, the most serious of which being developing a second cancer. However, it is important to remember that there is a relatively low risk of this and, often, the benefits of getting rid of the original cancer usually outweigh the risks.

There are also a variety of symptoms/side effects that are specific to radiation in the head/neck. These include:

-difficulty swallowing
-mouth and gum sores
-stiffness in the jaw
-tooth decay
-nausea
-lymphedema (swelling caused by a lymphatic system blockage)

In addition to all of these medical symptoms, there are a variety of emotional symptoms that both the patient and their family experiences. This can include anxiety, fear and depression. Often, there is a lot of anxiety about whether or not treatment options will work. There can be a great deal of fear about the future and the uncertainty of their condition. Both the patient and their loved ones can become depressed and have difficulty coping with all of the changes.

There are also a variety of symptoms that occur on The Road to Awesome. These can include:

-your siblings shaving their heads
-randomly bursting out into laughter
-spontaneous dance parties and crowd surfing with Michael Franti
-the occasional emotional outburst from Mom
-physical therapists being shocked at your motivation to improve
-an outpouring of love from family and friends

References:

http://www.abta.org/brain-tumor-information/types-of-tumors/medulloblastoma.html

http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/radiation-therapy/side-effects-radiation-therapy

http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/emotionalsideeffects/emotional-side-effects-landing