Treatment History
June 2000
I started having pain in my left temple, I was 33 years old.
June 2000
An MRI showed a cluster of blood in the brain.
June 27, 2000
Brain surgery at OHSU in Portland Oregon finds an acorn sized Grade 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) surrounded by an Arterial Veinal Malformation (AVM) in the left temporal lobe. All seen GBM and AVM where removed. Karnofsky Score 90.
August 2000
Conformal radiation clinical trial at UCSF Ca. called H-boc, where they injected me with cow hemoglobin and gave me high oxygen right before the radiation hypothetically to reduce hypoxia and increase the radiation ability.
September 2000
Allergic reaction to the H-boc – finished regular conformal radiation at home in Medford, Or.
Sept. 2000 – June 2004
MRIs every 3 months – each looked nice and clear
July 2004
GBM came back
August 2004
“Awake” brain surgery at UCSF with Dr. Berger, removed the grape sized GBM from the edge of the tumor cavity in my left temporal lobe. Did the awake surgery to reduce the risk of loosing language. Karnofsky Score 90.
September 2004
Temodar 330mg on the 5/23 schedule – I get my MRIs every two months at UCSF and see the neuron-oncologist Dr. Butowski.
November 2005
Stopped taking the Temodar, my blood counts were getting lower and I wanted a break.
December 2006
GBM came back
February 2007
WADA test before surgery to see if I was left or right brain dominated. I am left handed with a small chance to be right brain dominated, if so, my left temp lobe could be completely removed without taking away my language. Test resulted that I was left brain dominated like most people.
February 2007
“Awake” brain surgery at UCSF with Dr. Berger to remove the pea sized GBM and a “buffer” around it the size of a golf ball trying to get any hidden cancer cells. Again, the tumor was located on the edge of the tumor cavity in my left temporal lobe again. Karnofsky Score 90.
March 2007
Back on Temodar 330mg on the 5/23 schedule – I get my MRIs every two months at UCSF and see the neuron-oncologist Dr. Butowski.
November 2008
Still on Temodar and every two month MRIs look nice and clear.
February 2009
GBM came back
March 2009
Brain surgery at UCSF with Dr. Berger to remove an approx. 4mm tumor in the meninge located over the past tumor cavity. All seen tumor was removed. Pathology confirmed it was the GBM back.