1.) The tumor is still alive
• A new tumor (4 mm x 7 mm) was discovered on 8/20/08 on my Corpus Callosum.
• Figuring out how to treat this fast-growing tumor is our next task, although it appears that Avastin will be a major component of this treatment.
2.) IV-Based Chemotherapy (Carboplatin + VP-16)
• Just completed 6 cycles of this chemotherapy. The benefit vs. toxicity point had been reached.
• Chemo cycles began on 3/25/08.
• This IV-based chemotherapy helped to reduce tumor size by 90%.
3.) Radiation
• 6 weeks of radiation and low-dose chemotherapy began on 1/16/08.
• This was aggressive radiation. Suddenly, 80% of this brain tumor was trying to repopulate.
• This radiation was successful in slowing brain cancer cell growth.
4.) Two Brain Surgeries
• A second brain surgery with Dr. Patrick J. Kelly was done on 12/27/07.
• The first brain surgery was done on 5/5/05.
5.) Hematology
• Over 6 cycles over Carboplatin + VP-16, my blood counts have held up. I had $7,000 Neulasta shots every 4 weeks to maintain my White Blood Cell Counts. These shots helped in this effort.
Click HERE for Hematology Analysis
6.) Epilepsy Symptoms
• There is 1 Simple Partial Seizure (SPS) every 3.0 days. The more I heal, the more this continues to improve.
• We are at the point where my hematologist, Dr. Steve Pacia, wants to decrease to amount of anti-seizure medication I am taking, simply based upon the following improvement in SPS data (as of 8/16/08):
