Complications

He was healthy for a long time. He had a tumor removed in September of 2008 and had a year of clean MRIs. No cancer; no complications, but just because you cannot see it, doesn't mean that it is not there. It is a stealthy and sneaking opponent, and a thief. First it stole his short term memory and ability, at times, to transform his thoughts smoothly into words. Then it stole his ability to drive, followed by free and easy movement. His walking slowed, and he grew fatigued quite easily; a trip to the top of the stairs would wear him out completely.

If it cannot grow because of the treatments, it will use your weapon against you. Chemotherapy does not just kill cancer. It can also be used to efficiently and effectively kill ones immune system. What started out as a little red spot on the crown of his head, turned out to be an infection raging just below the surface. The plate that the had put in his head when they removed the second tumor, and grown infected. They removed the plate and found the infection had spread much more then they had originally anticipated. A normal person could fight this infection with ease and the assistance of antibiotics. As Superman lacks the former, he must rely solely upon the later. This would take eight to twelve weeks to fight; a normally healthy person could fight it in two.

As a result of the surgery, his body stopped absorbing the extra spinal fluid that his brain produced. This caused swelling in his brain, and swelling in the brain causes seizures. To correct this they put in shunt. This got infected, and it had to be removed, and an external one was put in instead. The extra spinal fluid still has to be drained. The cancer and lack of immune system makes this more complicated. Everything is more complicated...