Your Path to Hope Resources

Surviving brain cancer is a triumph, but it often comes with a complex set of emotions, including survivor’s guilt. This guilt arises from the feeling of being fortunate to have survived while others facing similar circumstances did not. Certain thoughts can take over such as, “Why did I survive while others did not?” and “What makes me special?” Coping with survivor’s guilt can be challenging, but it’s essential for long-term mental and emotional well-being. In this article, we’ll delve into the phenomenon of survivor’s guilt in the context of brain cancer survivors and provide tips to help navigate through it.

In the 7 years since I’ve been diagnosed with a large and rare brain tumor called a ganglioglioma, I have become much more comfortable sharing my story with others. I was 19 years old and a sophomore in college when I was diagnosed after my right side went numb and I went to the ER. It was a shock and an even bigger shock when the doctors told me it had been most likely growing slowly for more than 10 years. After I had an awake craniotomy …

“Every day when you wake up it’s ‘I have a brain tumor’. And then there came a day when I didn’t have that thought.” – Tom, Glioblastoma Survivor