Hello, my name is Wojtek. I am 26 years old and for the past two years I have been battling a malignant brain tumor – Pineoblastoma WHO Grade 4. For the last two years, I have also been the husband of a wonderful woman who has stood by my side and supported me through everything.
My story began in February 2024 with severe headaches, vomiting, and dizziness. I was admitted to the hospital, where doctors discovered that a cyst I had had since childhood in the pineal gland had grown so large that it was blocking the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, causing acute hydrocephalus. The doctors decided to operate the very same day. The procedure involved creating a pathway to restore the flow of brain fluid – an endoscopic third ventriculostomy. The surgery was performed in Rzeszów.
Later, we searched for a surgeon willing to attempt removal of the tumor, which was located in a very difficult-to-access area of the brain, in the pineal gland. We eventually found a doctor in Warsaw who agreed to perform such a challenging surgery. 
We traveled to Warsaw, and a few days later I underwent surgery – an attempt to remove the tumor. During the operation, severe bleeding occurred and the procedure had to be stopped. After the surgery, my intracranial pressure increased dangerously. The doctors made the decision to perform an emergency life-saving operation. I ended up in the ICU in a coma.
The following day, I was awakened from the coma and, thank God, I had full movement in my limbs. In the days that followed, I had to relearn basic activities such as lifting myself up, sitting on the bed, standing, and walking. After the surgeries, I struggled with vision problems and balance issues. Throughout all of this, my fiancée at the time (now my wife) and my parents stayed by my side every single day.
I still had one more surgery ahead of me. This time, the doctors managed to remove almost the entire tumor. The histopathology results were devastating. It turned out to be a very rare malignant tumor – Pineoblastoma WHO Grade 4. Even the doctors were shocked, because this type of cancer mainly occurs in children, and I was 24 years old at the time. A medical board was assembled to determine the best course of treatment.
I spent an entire month in the hospital in Warsaw. Leaving the hospital felt like a miracle – I was as happy as a child. Two months after the surgery, while feeling relatively well, I married the love of my life. We had planned our wedding long before, and ironically, the very year we were supposed to get married was the year I became ill.
Afterward, I qualified for proton therapy in Kraków, where I stayed for over a month. Later, I was treated in Brzozów, where I underwent 16 cycles of chemotherapy, finishing in July 2025. Follow-up examinations showed no signs of disease. I gradually regained my strength and was even able to return to work.
Unfortunately, in my most recent MRI scans in March 2026, numerous small lesions appeared in my thoracic and lumbar spine, along with multiple degenerative changes. It was very difficult to find a plan for the next stage of treatment, but eventually we managed to obtain one in Warsaw at the Children’s Memorial Health Institute (CZD). In May, I began another round of chemotherapy.
Since the beginning of my illness, I have struggled with insomnia, spinal pain, and chronic fatigue. I have been searching for support in various natural therapies that may help my treatment, such as hydrogen inhalation therapy, CBD oils, medical cannabis, and other products supporting the body’s recovery. These treatments are very expensive, especially a high-quality hydrogen inhalation device. On top of that, there are the fuel and travel costs connected with frequent medical appointments and treatments.
I also need to consult my case with medical centers abroad. It is extremely rare for someone my age to develop this type of cancer, which mainly affects children. This disease is not well known in Poland, and the current treatment is everything that doctors here are able to offer at this time.