The personality change debate

I don't know how many of you are aware of this, but there have been cases reported of people's personalities changing as a direct result of a brain tumour. It would appear this depends on the positioning of the tumour.
Touch- wood I have always categorically said that I am the same person I have always been, but now I find myself wondering can anyone who has dealt with serious illness ever be EXACTLY the same?
I believe that as humans, we are continuously learning about ourselves and the world, never fully growing up, which would syggest that none of us remain the same for ever. Throw in a few life altering challenges in along the way, and you can pretty much kiss childhood innocence away...

My first such challenge was my accident at the very young age of 23. Being forced to take time out of uni, to spend 4 months in hospital in agonising pain, whilst most of your friends are still going out and having fun, certainly makes you re-address your priorities. So did I change? yeah probably. I know that after I left hospital I had to find a strength I never knew existed ( thank god I did, as I've had to rely on it since!) I had to push myself to get back on my feet and keep up all my physio exercises so I could ditch my wheel chair forever. I also began to appreciate my family a lot more, and developed a more tolerent attitude, plus took uni (when I went back ) a lot more seriously.

Then cancer battle number 1 happened. And my usual sense of humour turned decidely black as I found I could make people laugh, rather than worry about me. I also found I could fight against self pity, and that I could cope with illness logically, if I detached thd empotional side.

This time I don't think I've changed much at all. But the skills and character traits I deveoped in those first two instances have definitely helped me to cope. I still enjoy the same things, just generally don't take so much for granted.