From Brain Tumor Patient to Martial Arts Champion

Being diagnosed with a brain tumor can change your life. But brain surgery can change your life for the better. Just ask Jim F. of Riverdale, New Jersey, who was inspired to become stronger than ever after undergoing surgery to remove a large meningioma at Morristown Medical Center in 2016.

Working in pharmaceutical sales for decades, Jim has always been active and on the go. However, he began to slow down when he started experiencing difficulty lifting his left foot and weakness in his left leg. He thought it was related to a high school knee injury, but a physical medicine doctor suspected something was going on with his back. A few weeks later, Jim was on a sales call at a neurologist’s office when the staff noticed his gait and encouraged him to get an MRI scan.

“Foot drop is often caused by arthritic changes or a herniated disc within the lumbar spine,” explains Atlantic Brain and Spine Neurosurgeon Yaron A. Moshel, MD, PhD, who serves as director of Atlantic Health System’s Gerald J. Glasser Brain Tumor Center and chairman of neurosurgery at Morristown Medical Center. “However, it is less well known that you can experience the same symptoms from a large brain tumor that’s affecting the functional area of the brain responsible for leg movement.”

Jim’s MRI showed a large and fortunately benign meningioma in the center of his brain. In addition to pressing on his motor and sensory cortex, the tumor was growing off of and wrapping around the bottom of the sagittal sinus, a large vein that drains blood flow from the brain. Tumors like these are classified as falcine and parasagittal meningiomas.

Specialized Treatment for a Complex Meningioma

“Jim’s tumor was particularly large and complex,” notes Dr. Moshel. “Our chief concern was extracting the tumor safely without damaging that important vein or the movement centers of the brain that were already being compromised.”

With microsurgical techniques, the help of neuroanesthesia and specialized monitoring  that verified the function of Jim’s leg movement area during surgery, Dr. Moshel and team were able to carefully separate the mass from the brain and remove the entire tumor.

“These kinds of tumors often leave residual tissue that can cause the tumor to come back. Because we were able to remove all of the tumor cells, Jim didn’t even need any follow-up radiation therapy,” says Dr. Moshel.

Jim started physical therapy right after surgery and was diligent with his inpatient and outpatient programs. He says he felt like an athlete again six months after the operation without any of the previous issues stemming from his left leg.

A Life-Changing Experience

“This entire experience was life changing,” says Jim. “To survive a brain tumor, you have to set goals and give recovery all you got. That’s exactly what I did. I wanted to come back stronger than I ever was.”

After being released from physical therapy, Jim took up taekwondo and karate. Now in his 60s, he competes – and wins – against much younger opponents.

Jim adds, “I am where I am today because of Dr. Moshel’s good work, my rehabilitation team’s good work and my dedication to following their guidance with a vengeance.”

Thanks to the Glasser Brain Tumor Center’s long-term follow-up care, Jim also has the peace of mind of knowing his tumor hasn’t come back.

“Even when a brain tumor is removed completely, they are known to recur, which is one of the reasons why we follow our patients at the Glasser Brain Tumor Center in perpetuity, not just for a year or two,” notes Dr. Moshel. “The relationships we build with patients are enduring and go far beyond the hospital walls. We’re all part of a wonderful community, and we’re all in this together.”