Hello William,
Good news from UCSF, my MRI looked clear. No seen tumor.
Here is the interesting thing, my tumor is unlike any other tumor they have ever seen. Because it looked like a strange Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), they decided to do a lot of genetic pathology tests. ALL Glioblastomas have one or both of two genetic changes in their cancer cells, a p53 and a FGFR. Those genetic changes are what make the cancer cells grow so aggressively. My GBM did NOT have the genetic changes. They have NEVER seen that before. They still class it as a GBM grade 4, but say it is in it's own unique class.
There is good and bad news about that.
The good news is, that my GBM seems to be less aggressive than most. Mine has occurred 3 times in 7 years (but I am alive), most GBMs kill the person in 1-3 years.
The bad news is, almost all drugs being developed right now to fight the GBM brain tumors focus on attacking the p53 and FGFR genetic changes in the cancer cells. So most new drugs out there would not work for me. My cancer cells must have some other genetic change they have not been found yet.
Good news is, that general chemo, that just kills any cells dividing, may still work for me (unless my brain cells figure out a path around the chemo - which often happens after while). Dr. Bustowski wants me to stay on Temodar chemotherapy as long as I can. So that's it. Just like typical life in general. There always seems to be good news and bad news mixed together. I focus on the good news.
I decided to celebrate my 7 year brain cancer survival this June 2007, I am going to bike (or run / bike) around the Crater Lake Rim, 33 miles. I'm so excited about it. I have to start getting in shape and ready for it.
God Bless,
Cheryl Broyles
GBM survivor!