You discovered your brain tumor by chance. Can you share the story?
Last summer, I fell out of a hammock and hit my head. I was worried about concussion, so I went to a doctor and he ordered a CT scan of my brain. Although there were no signs of concussion, the scan did find something odd. My doctor then ordered an MRI, which showed a small brain tumor.
By the way my brain had routed blood vessels around the mass, my doctors guessed the tumor was about 10 years old, meaning it was very slow growing – a good sign.
You could say I was lucky to have fallen on my head because I might not have found it otherwise!
Why did you choose to have the tumor removed at UCSF?
I'd heard great things about Dr. Berger. Of course, brain surgery is a big deal, so I wanted to do my homework first. I interviewed three different surgeons for the job. The first didn't convey the confidence I was seeking in a brain surgeon. The second was very pushy and assertive, which didn't appeal to me. The third, Dr. Berger, was clearly the best option.
Like Goldilocks in the children's story, I met with three surgeons and the last one was just right.
What impressed you about Dr. Berger?
He was personable and direct. He was confident and firm without being pushy. We exchanged emails before meeting in person, and I liked how clearly he explained things.
