Ken Baker (1) (1970–)

My son discovered when he was in his early 30s that he had a pituitary tumor. This is a good book independent of that idiosyncratic connection--good for anyone who is interested in reading either about things medical or about the unusual journeys we take when something out of the ordinary and unexpected presents itself.

The symptoms are subtle and can, until it is very large and impinges on other nearby cranial structures, be easily explained in males as the product of more routine ailments: slight enlargement of the breasts (I'm getting fat), intermittant impotence (Well, its just once in a while), fatigue (I'm working too hard), a little nausea (Mmm, indigestion). The tumor produces prolactin, which in females prepares the body for lactation. Although he had apparently had the tumor for a long time and had for a couple of years had those symptoms, my son found out that actually he had a tumor from a routine eye exam (I sure do need new glasses).

You don't exactly expect to walk away from Texas Optical facing the prospect of brain surgery, but that is how it happens for many men. My son is okay--they went in through his nose and took it out and gave him a nose job at the same time. He has to take all the hormones normally produced by the pituitary and has to take medicine to keep the tumor from regrowing.… (mehr)