From Barb, Erin’s Mom

A few days ago my college friend Barbara Evans sent me this information from an article she had read.  She is particularly interested in GBMs because her daughter-in-law’s brother, had surgery 7 or 8 years ago for a GBM.

“I just read an interesting article on a “quantum step” in glioblastoma research from the University of North Carolina.  A surprising pattern has emerged. While brain tumors looked alike under a  microscope they showed remarkable differences when examined more closely at the molecular level.  Some were missing parts of chromosomes and others had extra parts.  Dr. David Neil Hayes, lead author and researcher equates this find  with some of the major advances in science.  Some patients may opt to forego treatment if they know it is ineffective on their type of tumor.  Additionally, less medicine may work on tumors that do respond, sparing patients from toxic side effects.”

I went to UCSF today with Erin, Tommy, and my sister-in-law Pat, and I met one of the doctors there whom Erin sees regularly.  She is about Erin’s age.  She met Erin in the lobby where Erin was chatting with another patient, and said that Erin should be the leader of a UCSF tumor support group!  This doctor confirmed that Thursday’s MRI showed no regrowth of the tumor.  Yeah.