I have plenty of neurons left

On Treatment2009
Written By Liz Salmi

I emailed my neuro-oncologist with a silly question.

I asked: “With all the surgery I've had in my left parietal lobe, do I still have anything left in that spot? Do tumors eat up good brain or just squish it around?”

He replied: “I don't think you will have any new neurological problems as a direct result of the surgery at this point, and your brain has plenty of neurons left over to keep you going.”

I always heard we use just 10% of our brain. Now that my brain has a missing chunk it appears my brain willl take advantage of the neurons I didn't use before.

I have a feeling that by the end of all this my brain will be more efficient than ever.

Liz Salmi

Liz Salmi is Communications & Patient Initiatives Director for OpenNotes at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Over the last 15 years Liz has been: a research subject; an advisor in patient stakeholder groups; a leader in “patient engagement” research initiatives; and an innovator, educator and investigator in national educational and research projects. Today her work focuses on involving patients and care partners in the co-design of research and research dissemination. It is rumored Liz was the drummer in a punk rock band.

https://thelizarmy.com
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