Brain Cancer Podcast

Hello! This is a quick one but I wanted to make an episode for hitting and surpassing the seven year mark on this brain cancer journey we've been on. Of course there are ups and downs with good and bad days. However, we are still going! It was such a hectic and tiring summer but I feel like I'm back on track and just about to start on a new trial drug so we will see how it goes. Of course, I'll be sharing it with you all as well. Your support has meant so much to me and I just want to keep sharing with you all. Thank you for everything. Here's to another seven years! Chris

Hello! I wanted to create this episode for Glioblastoma Awareness Day 2023 to add to the various articles and stories you hear from GBM patients. Whether as a patient or a caregiver, this disease is horrible. We've lost some true greats to this disease. And I don't necessarily mean "famous" people although we have lost them as well. Parents, siblings, family members, best friends... I know that better treatments are out there and researchers are hard at work looking for answers.  I just want to say thank you to everyone for all of the support I've gotten. Truly the best people in the world.  Here are some of the links I had mentioned as well!  The durvalumab trial I was on (Cohort A): https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02336165 ABTA links: https://www.abta.org/national-conference/ https://give.abta.org/event/webinar-what-to-know-when-youre-newly-diagnosed-with-glioblastoma/e456254 https://www.abta.org/brochures/  

Hello! Sorry for the gap in episodes but it's been a hectic few weeks with work, spring garden prep and planting, taking my photo walks, and general hospital visits and treatments that have kept me behind on so much.  But, this is one I was really excited to record and I've already set aside time to record our next episode which is very relevant to this month.  It only took a few years but I'm finally more comfortable in post editing with getting my volume set to the standard of LUFS and hopefully the earlier episodes didn't have you changing the volume a lot! LOL, I get there eventually.  I hope you enjoy this one and that it can be helpful to you as a patient or caregiver! Chris

Well hello and thank you for listening today! It's been two years since my second craniotomy for a small recurrence of my brain tumor. I cannot believe that it's been two years already!  I just wanted to share how I felt back then and how I'm feeling today while still going through my own treatments. I have to apologize for not getting everything I wanted to get done for Brain Tumor Awareness Month. Like I mention in the episode, I just don't have enough hours in the day after work and getting everything cleaned up and planted outside. I also have to manage with the fatigue as well. 

Hello! This is just a short episode talking about Brain Tumor Awareness Month here in May 2023.  I just started talking and just went with what I was feeling. Not exactly a structured episode but sometimes I like to just talk. And thank you for letting me talk. This is a show for all of us and it really acts as a bit of therapy for myself as well. Some days ARE difficult. But I am so lucky that I've got an outlet like this.  I got some not-so-great news recently as we've lost another good soul far too soon. It's this awful situation where we meet under such unfortunate terms but I don't take any days or anything for granted. I know one day we will be able to beat this disease.  Thank you all so much. Please never hesitate to reach out to me if you need anything.  Chris

Hello! I am so sorry for the delay between episodes! I also did not realize I already did an episode about MRIs but I'm not going to waste a recording I made. Maybe it can help someone and that's all I want.  It's been a very hectic few months and I'll be doing an update. Don't worry, I am still going and our journey continues! I was also at work a bit more, spring cleanup outside, starting seeds for the garden, and we just had the Boston Marathon and had a great time as a spectator! Even with some rain near the end, I am always excited for seeing these athletes run.  I've got a few great ideas for episodes and we're going to have a great summer! Chris Links: https://radiology.ucsf.edu/patient-care/prepare/mri#- https://radiologykey.com/imaging-of-brain-tumors-mr-spectroscopy-and-metabolic-imaging/ https://moffitt.org/cancers/brain-tumor/diagnosis/mri/ https://www.cedars-sinai.org/programs/imaging-center/med-pros/neuroradiology/mr-spectroscopy.html https://4rai.com/blog/3-types-of-mri-machines https://www.nibib.nih.gov/science-education/science-topics/magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri  

Hello! I'm sorry for the delay and I'm getting caught up on things. Normally, I should have more time but I've been busy with so many things and I wanted to record.  This is just a short personal update and I also felt like I wanted to talk about some of the things we as brain cancer patients and caregivers hear both online and in real life.  I want to thank you all so much for supporting me over these years and being so kind to me. I always have so many potential topics going through my head but please let me know if there's something you want to hear about. This is our show!  Chris

Hello and welcome! In this episode, we go over the latest step in my current treatment and discuss what lomustine is, potential side effects, and a story of how much control some companies have over our treatments.  I'm sorry for the slight delay in releasing this episode. I've been working, going to appointments, and my voice has been pretty rough the past week or so. That makes recording just not something I could have done.  I also normalized the audio to the industry standard because I'm still learning things here! I hope it sounds ok and that the volume is balanced from start to finish with nothing being too loud or quiet. Please let me know if there are any issues.  Thank you all so much for your support and being the greatest group of people. I practice gratitude every day and it helps me so much.  Links from the show: https://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/Lomustine.aspx https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/alkylating-agent https://www.drugs.com/drug-class/alkylating-agents.html https://cancerletter.com/trials-and-tribulations/20210716_7/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/brain-cancer-drug-gleostine-no-longer-an-option-under-medicare/ https://journals.lww.com/neurotodayonline/fulltext/2021/09160/a_glioblastoma_drug_is_abruptly_withdrawn_from.6.aspx

Hello and happy holidays!! As we head into 2023, I wanted to do a little recap of 2022 and talk about some plans for the next year. I'm really excited to see what we have in store next year.  Thank you all so much for all of your support during these 6 years! I am so thankful to have you all in my life.  Make sure you give the show a follow on your podcast app of choice and if you enjoy the show, write a review so that others can find it! Chris

Hello! I figured that a new year would be a good time to update our trailer since I made the original one quite some time ago. It's just a 1 minute trailer and I tried to fit what the show is and the purpose all within a minute. I wanted to keep it in that general range so that more people can hear a quick trailer and tune in.  Be sure to share it and thank you all! 2023 is almost here and we've got a lot more to talk about! Chris

Hello! This is the 3rd year of our Thanksgiving episode series. I have a feeling we will have a few more years of these :) I also give a quick update as to how I'm feeling after radiation. This is being uploaded a couple days after Thanksgiving but it was a hectic few days. I'll be sure to do at least some posts on the Facebook page at Facebook.com/Braincancerpodcast Feel free to leave a review/comment if you'd like!  I just have so much in my life to be thankful for and I hope you enjoy!  Chris

Hello! Thank you for stopping by for a quick update on how this short, ten day radiation therapy has been going. It is highly targeted and I always want to share how I am doing as well. I will definitely be doing an update after day 10 and throughout the coming months I'll let you all know how I'm doing.  I'm still working on mic placement and how far away to talk with this mic but once I get that and the post production settled, the quality should hopefully improve.  Thank you all so much for your support and never hesitate to reach out!  Chris

Hello!  Lots going on and I wanted to give you all an update on how I have been. It's been a very hectic few weeks and I wanted to give you all a bit of a recap on things. I've actually already recorded another short update after finishing this one so stay tuned for the next one!  Thank you all so much! I decided to get one more upgrade for our show and I'm working on how to get it sounding how I want it to both during recording and in post. I love doing this and over the past couple of years I've saved up for some small upgrades to improve our show. I think getting a mic booster however many months ago was quite an improvement!  I'm excited for what is next on our journey! Chris

Hello! I have officially hit 6 years since I was diagnosed with glioblastoma in September of 2016. It's a bit of a time of reflection for me. How far I have come and the people I have encountered along the way.  I just wanted to say thank you. I cannot put into words how much you have changed my life. I could not ask for better people!  Chris

Hello! I just wanted to sit down and have a chat about dexamethasone. This is one of the episodes I had been wanting to make for a while. Many of us will experience this drug at some point. It's important to understand its side effects and how it can work against the very idea of immunotherapy. Many of us in the community have felt those side effects and it's important to be informed.  I've included some links below as well for your own research.  Thank you all for your support. I appreciate all of you so much!  Chris Links: Immunotherapy episode https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-d9d8j-111c5bb https://www.drugs.com/dexamethasone.html https://www.drugs.com/drug-class/glucocorticoids.html https://www.ulh.nhs.uk/services/cancer-services/cancer-services-information/taking-dexamethasone-when-you-have-a-brain-tumour/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31346902/ https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2020/brain-cancer-immunotherapy-steroids-limit-effectiveness  

Hello! This is our episode where we look back on just a few of the many brain cancer studies and articles over the month of July, 2022. I really enjoy doing these and it's a good way to see how many new therapies are being pursued around the world!  Thank you all so much for listening and please follow the page and Facebook at Facebook.com/braincancerpodcast  Also, make sure you subscribe!  You are all amazing! Chris As usual, links are provided down below and I will link the times if you wanted to note a specific part of the episode.  Links: Detecting Brain Cancer 2:30 https://hms.harvard.edu/news/detecting-brain-cancer   Brain Cancer Therapy in Pediatric Trial 8:35 https://www.genengnews.com/topics/cancer/brain-cancer-therapy-shows-promise-in-pediatric-clinical-trial/ A New Path 13:20 https://news.yale.edu/2022/07/28/new-path-treating-brain-cancer-yale-developed-compound Knoxville boy and Batman 18:25 https://www.wate.com/news/smile-check/we-came-home-and-contacted-batman-says-mother-of-knoxville-boy-fighting-brain-cancer/

Hello! Across the United States, July 20th is recognized as national glioblastoma awareness day and I wanted to release a short episode talking about some of my feelings and how much all of YOU mean to me.  But honestly, all brain tumors are dangerous. GBM is certainly not the only very aggressive tumor type.  While it's not the longest episode, I wanted it to be a short listen and show how thankful I am. For so many things. I've made some great friends and met the most amazing people as a result of our diagnoses.  

Hello! Thank you for tuning in to our monthly news recap! I read some very interesting articles this month with a focus on both DIPG and GBM as they are both diffuse, difficult-to-treat tumors.  I didn't realize that this episode went longer than usual and I considered cutting an article out but I've included time stamps down below with a link to each article. I'll also add a longer transition time between segments! I'll do better on that next time!  Up next: GBM Awareness Day 2022!  Thank you all so much and I love all of you and the support you've given me!   Chris Links and time stamps: 1:04 https://www.channel3000.com/i/harnessing-a-virus-to-fight-a-killer-brain-tumor-in-kids/ 7:40 https://newsroom.uvahealth.com/2022/06/28/discovery-points-to-better-treatments-for-brain-tumors/ 12:39 https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-06-light-activated-photoimmunotherapy-brain-cancer-treatment.html 18:07 https://www.targetedonc.com/view/fda-grants-rpdd-to-paxalisib-for-rare-pediatric-brain-cancer 23:12 https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/woman-who-lost-her-sight-through-brain-cancer-prepares-for-sunderland-triathlon/ar-AAYUh3e?fromMaestro=true&pfr=1  

Hello! Thank you all for tuning in! I'm sorry this episode took me a little longer to edit because it was a very hectic few weeks! I just wanted to talk about some of the things you may have to complete before a craniotomy as well as what it is like when you wake up and how the following few weeks are after you get home! I've got a couple links at the bottom here as well. You should get a sheet of paper that will break down what you can and cannot do after going home. In addition, you'll be given instructions to follow regarding your medications. I just hung mine on the refrigerator so it wouldn't get lost.  These are just my experiences and general guidelines as your team will give you instructions for your specific situation. Once again, sorry for the delay and I've already got the topic for our next episode!  You're all amazing! Chris   Links https://www.healthpages.org/surgical-care/craniotomy/ https://hartfordhospital.org/services/neuroscience-institute/patient-support/discharge-instructions/after-brain-surgery

Hello!!! Thank you all so much for tuning in! It's that time where we look back at a few of the new studies and stories of the past month. I've got some good ideas for some upcoming episodes as well. Please feel free to reach out for any reason and make suggestions or provide feedback. I really enjoy doing these and you all are the reason I love doing this.  I love you all.   Chris   Links! https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-05-chemoid-trial-survival-glioma-patients.html https://bobrtimes.com/a-brain-tumor-cell-magnet/146482/ https://www.today.com/health/health/100-brain-tumors-led-investigation-nj-high-school-mayor-shares-results-rcna30902 https://nypost.com/2022/05/18/ex-phillies-brain-cancer-deaths-need-study-dr-marc-siegel/ https://www.foxnews.com/media/cancer-deaths-former-phillies-players-investigated-siegel https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/man-remarries-wife-brain-tumour-cause-behaviour-change-family-break-1901116

Hello! I just wanted to say thank you. I just needed to sit down and talk to you all after being 1 year out from my second resection surgery and some of the conflicts that are going through my head. I know I am not alone in this feeling and I hope that it can help.  You are all amazing. All around the world!  Chris

Hello! Thank you so much for tuning in and sharing your time with me! In this episode, we cover some of the latest news and research in the world of brain cancer. I really enjoy doing these monthly updates because the research and studies are constantly evolving.  As usual, links are posted below for you to reference if you would like.  I appreciate all of you so much! I truly have met some special people in very special places doing this and I am so thankful! Chris  Links: https://www.silive.com/news/2022/04/rare-brain-tumor-found-in-115-people-who-attended-or-worked-at-a-new-jersey-high-school-report.html https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nj-parents-demand-swifter-action-in-school-cancer-probe-after-100-brain-tumors-diagnosed/3672694/ https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2022/04/422681/genomic-sequencing-changing-diagnosis-treatment-patients-brain-cancer https://www.newscientist.com/article/2316878-crispr-nanocapsule-limits-growth-of-aggressive-brain-tumours-in-mice/ https://www.healio.com/news/hematology-oncology/20220420/cart-robustly-effective-in-younger-patients-with-deadly-form-of-brain-cancer  

Hello! Thank you all so much for listening! I wanted to make a general episode discussing what an MRI is used for and how my typical scan works. I didn't want to turn it into a technical episode because for us, the images are the important part. My voice wasn't cooperating as much because I didn't drink enough water prior to recording and I hope it's not too bad.  As usual, links are here if you wanted to do any extra reading or research!  If you have any episodes you want to hear, please send me an email at braincancerpodcast@gmail.com and make sure you subscribe to the show and visit the Facebook page at Facebook.com/braincancerpodcast for daily updates!  I love doing this and your support means the world to me! Chris Links: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/mri/about/pac-20384768 https://www.envrad.com/what-is-an-mri-with-contrast/ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/brain-perfusion-scan https://4rai.com/blog/3-types-of-mri-machines https://www.ggreene.com/2018/04/02/new-open-mri-at-mgh-in-chelsea-ma/ https://www.clinicalimagingsystems.com/product/hitachi-oasis-1-2t-mri-scanner/

Hello! Thank you all so much for tuning in! I had some great feedback on the monthly news updates and I hope I can do about 1 per month to just recap the newest meds and treatments that keep expanding our options. I also just wanted to talk at the end about how I personally have been doing. You all are amazing and I can't say how much I appreciate everything you've done for me. I've met the most truly beautiful people in my journey. I've got a couple ideas for some upcoming episodes and I welcome all suggestions and feedback!  Thank you all! Chris ---------------------- Links: https://www.curetoday.com/view/clinical-trial-investigating-a-combo-therapy-in-brain-cancer-now-enrolling-patients https://www.libtayo.com/ https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03945253 https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2022/03/uc-joins-glioblastoma-clinical-trial.html New Jersey clinical trial: https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/john-theurer-cancer-center-treats-first-patient-in-u-s-with-investigational-new-treatment-for-brain-cancer-1031313076 Cell phone studies: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/new-study-cell-phones-don-e2-80-99t-increase-risk-of-brain-cancer/ar-AAVJdse https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/news-media/research-highlights/meta-analysis-shows-increased-risk-of-tumors-for-cell-phone-users/

Hello! First off, thank you so much for tuning in! I wanted to do a short recap/update on the CNS tumor changes introduced in the back half of last year. I tried my best but it is still hard and my voice didn't want to cooperate either.  I'll be doing another update/chat type episode soon as I have a few things beyond my personal update that I want to talk about.  It's hard to put into words how much you all mean to me. I love doing this and you've all been so amazing to me. Never hesitate to reach out and you aren't alone in this world! The sun shines through all the clouds. Chris Links: https://radiopaedia.org/articles/who-classification-of-cns-tumours-1 https://academic.oup.com/neuro-oncology/article/23/8/1231/6311214

Hello! Thank you for tuning in! In this episode, I wanted to just review and talk about some of the more recent news I've seen in the brain cancer world. We are seeing many advances in treatment now that people will have more options than ever before. This means longer, happier lives in our mission to eliminate brain cancer. I hope to do this monthly as long as the news keeps coming out!  Thank you all so much. I love all of you! Chris Links for articles from the show: Selinexor study https://www.cancer.columbia.edu/news/promising-treatment-deadly-brain-cancer Electric field device https://www.qvbio.co.uk/ Radiation seed https://www.freethink.com/health/cancer-therapy EGFR study https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/decision-switch-discovered-in-mutations-linked-to-common-brain-tumor/ SurVax https://njbmagazine.com/njb-news-now/overlook-medical-center-enrolling-patients-for-new-brain-tumor-vaccine/ Chemo resistance https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2022/01/scientists-at-fralin-biomedical-research-institute-develop-new-s.html    

Hello! Thank you all so much for taking the time to listen to me! I did have a difficult time with making that episode and I think I can hear it in my voice. However, I tried my best and wanted to cover what I think we all know is an important topic. Cancer or not.  I appreciate you all so much for your support and questions. Never hesitate to reach out!  I love you all, Chris Additional resources: https://trustandwill.com/learn/end-of-life-planning-checklist https://www.medicareinteractive.org/get-answers/planning-for-medicare-and-securing-quality-care/preparing-for-future-health-care-needs/health-care-proxies https://legaltemplates.net/form/dnr-form/ https://legaltemplates.net/form/living-will/  

Hello! Thank you all for tuning in! I really wanted to do another episode talking about the importance of mental health care combined with a brain cancer diagnosis. These past two years have been a challenge for all of us. This episode might sound a little bit all over, but I was just talking about how I felt and what has helped me in my own life.  It is easy to get trapped in our own thoughts and we all have different experiences, resources are available for us.  If there are any specific topics you would like to hear about, let me know!! Or, you can come on and share your own personal experiences as a patient or caregiver to the community! Never hesitate to reach out if you need anything or you want to talk. I'm just an email or message away!  I love you all! Chris

Hello! I hope you all enjoy this short episode talking about a couple diets that could possibly hold promise to supplementing your standard brain cancer treatment. As I mention in the episode, always talk to your doctor about dietary changes and it can be beneficial to also speak with the nutritionist. I've included some links below so you can get a start on getting extra information about these diets. In the end, a balanced diet is very important and it's something that will help your physical and mental health!  Thank you all so much for listening and for all your support! I'm so excited to keep recording and doing this for a long time! Please don't hesitate to reach out! I love you all! Chris https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/living-with-a-brain-tumour/health-fitness/diet/ https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/253659#Ketogenic-Diet   Some peer-reviewed articles here https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5834833/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5704454/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6361831/   This one is about glioblastomas being dependent on cholesterol.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30765502/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27846382/ https://blog.braintumor.org/glioblastomas-are-addicted-to-cholesterol-can-breaking-their-dependency-stop-these-tumors/          

Hello! I wanted to get this episode out before I leave town for a few days for the whole holiday season. I wanted to make an episode about some of the most common types of surgery that happen in the world of brain tumors. If any of you would like a more thorough episode dedicated to newer surgical procedures like robot-assisted surgery, micro surgery, and/or laser surgery, let me know!  In addition, tell me what YOU want to hear. I am here for you all. I'm sorry if some of the audio is not as great, I wasn't able to do be usual pre-recording things like having some warm tea and drinking plenty of water before. I also plan to test out some new EQ and compression settings to try and improve my recording as well. I'm really trying to improve as I go and I've learned how to improve in other areas. I could invest in a preamp with a way to control the recording levels but I already record to an external recorder. That's an option but it might be a little bit!  I appreciate everything you all have done for me. You all have had such a positive effect on my life. I am excited to go into 2022 and trying my best to be informative and keep sharing my own personal experiences. While it certainly isn't always easy, I stop to think just how fortunate I have been.  I hope you enjoy and please let me know what you would like. Feedback is great! I love you all!   Chris   Links: https://www.abta.org/brochures/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3kXCC3h1dw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVG6X6KNV2E          

Happy Thanksgiving. I think it's important that we all take a minute to think about the things we are thankful for. I am thankful for you. Without you, we wouldn't have a show! Every one of you is special and you should feel loved, because you are.  You are the reason why we will keep this thing going! It does not matter if your country doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving. We don't need a holiday to recognize what we are thankful for. I love you all   Chris

Hello, everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween as we head into November! This is an episode I had recorded a while ago and finally finished! I hope the audio sounds ok. I've since improved my recording area with some additional acoustic foam panels.  I tried to give a quick breakdown on various types of immunotherapy. I should be recording again either tomorrow night or Tuesday. I want to give my personal experience as I close in on the end of my Temodar cycles.  Thank you all so, so much! I've definitely gotten behind and I apologize. Here are some of the links I mentioned in the episode.   https://www.headandneckcancer.org.au/treatment/emerging-therapies/immunotherapy https://www.cancerresearch.org/immunotherapy/cancer-types/brain-cancer https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/immunotherapy/checkpoint-inhibitors https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/immunotherapy/types/checkpoint-inhibitors https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/immunotherapy/car-t-cell1.html http://www.ucihealth.org/medical-services/brain-tumor-program/brain-tumor-treatments/immunotherapy-brain-tumor-vaccine https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/immunotherapy/monoclonal-antibodies https://www.cancerresearch.org/immunotherapy/cancer-types/brain-cancer    

Hello! It's been exactly 5 years since my surgery and diagnosis of a glioblastoma. So, I sat down the other night and just wanted to talk. In these 5 years, I've become a better person. Someone that I knew I could be but it took a life changing diagnosis to bring it out.  I know who I am. While I still can, I want to help as many people as I can and just be happy. I'm so thankful for having a great team taking care of me, living in a place where I can get the treatment I need, and above that, YOU. My family and friends have been so helpful and like I say in this episode, I've met so many wonderful people over these years that I may otherwise never have met. While it may not have been under the ideal circumstances of meeting, I wouldn't change it. All the people who I've met through the Discord/Reddit community, Omerta, ABTA, SG1 peeps, people who reach out to ask me questions or share their own experiences. I know I'm missing some but know that you are amazing and I'm the lucky one to have met you. Anyone can feel free to reach out to me. I had a rough few months but you all get me through things.  Also, since I changed my recording environment a bit, I had to make some audio tweaks and let me know how it sounds. I had to lower a couple things and I'm still not set on the best EQ settings. I'll be tinkering around a bit more though. I just really wanted to release this on a very big milestone on this brain cancer rollercoaster! I love you all! Chris

Hello! First, I'm so sorry for the absence. It's been a hectic few months to say the least. I get into it this episode but I'm back on track and have a list written up of topics to cover. Also, if you want to tell your story, just email me and we can coordinate something over Discord, Zoom, or whatever works. I handle all of the audio recording on my end so you don't have to do any of that. This also applies to caregivers as your experience is just as important!  I'm very excited to get back on track and putting out regular episodes. Thank you all so much for your support. It really does mean the world to me.  I love you all! Chris

I meant to get this out faster but had a couple things keeping me always a day behind. The next episode is already halfway through the editing process. I'm actually going to be switching over to Audacity 3.0.2 but I had started editing on the older version. So, I don't think there are many major changes but I will do some shorter episodes as well after the next one! You all are amazing and I cannot thank you enough. It has just been a rough and busy few weeks and my brain feels like it can't stop to focus on one thing at a time.  I'm excited for some nice weather, recording some episodes, and enjoying working on the garden and my photography. I love you all! Chris

Hello, everyone!  I just wanted to turn my recorder on and talk into my mic for a little bit. It's just me talking about a few things going on in my life. I needed to talk and you all are awesome! I know I can count on you. Yes you, reading this! The next episode has been recorded and I need to get started on editing it. I'm going to try to get it done as quickly as possible. I tend to want things to sound as best as they can for you all. Thank you all for everything you do for me!   Chris 

Hello! I hope you are all doing well!  I explain why I wasn't recording for a few weeks and I am so sorry! This episode took me around 5 or 6 days to finally finish editing and get posted. I have no idea what happened during my recording, but possibly one of my fans kicked on and I had ridiculous amounts of junk noise to remove in post. I did 2 passes with noise reduction but any more than that and I would have ruined the recording. So hopefully this sounds alright to you all. I may have spent 8 or so hours working on cutting this down to a reasonable length as well.  I don't know how I somehow never covered the topic of chemo and temozolomide.  I've got a lot of links for you here!  https://healthonline.washington.edu/sites/default/files/record_pdfs/How-Take-Temozolomide-(Temodar).pdf ^This is a great guide on properly taking your Temodar.^ https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/brain-tumour-diagnosis-treatment/treating-brain-tumours/adult-treatments/chemotherapy/temozolomide/ https://www.cancernetwork.com/view/role-temozolomide-cns Below is the MGMT paper I referenced  https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa043331 If anyone is interested, here is the link to the show about IDH/MGMT. https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-byggz-dc0367   Thank you all so much for tuning in. Please feel free to reach out at any time because you're never alone here!  I love you all! Chris

Hello! I'm so sorry for the lack of shows the past 2-3 weeks. It's been a very busy, stressful and overall not great week but I've tried to get myself right because I was able to take some fairly nice walks outside a few days ago.  I just wanted to share how my day at the hospital went and to just sit down and talk through how I've been feeling. It really does help me. Thank you all for listening and I hope you know how much you all help me.  I love you all! Chris

Hello! I hope you're all doing well! I just wanted to make an episode addressing mental health in the brain cancer community. It has been a difficult year for all of us. Having to deal with the pandemic and shutdown while still going through our own care.  I had planned on putting this out a few days ago but a combination of things meant that it took me a bit longer. Lots of things have been going on but I was determined to get this out today for you all.  Thank you all so much for the support and don't hesitate to reach out to me for any reason! I love you all!   Chris

Hello, everyone! I hope you're all doing well. This is just a quick update episode on how my day at the hospital went. I have to apologize for the audio quality being a bit bad. I was tired and definitely a little dehydrated. I usually drink plenty of water before recording anything but I definitely didn't do all of my normal things before sitting down.  Thank you so much for taking some time out of your day to listen. It means so much to me.  I hope you have a great weekend! I love you all!   Chris

Hello! Thank you for tuning in! In this episode, we have a great interview with my friend Stephen who lives in Dublin, Ireland. He takes us along as he explains how his stable life was suddenly flipped upside down. He talks about his surgery, recovery, and treatment. In addition, we cover some of his post radiation side effects and how he has found something that reliably works for him.  Every journey will be different. What works for one person, or even a group of people, may not work for you or your loved one. Always speak with your doctor but do not be afraid you be your own advocate. The same goes for your loved ones.  While not all of us can physically do the same things, diet makes a huge difference in the fight against brain cancer. One diet may not work for someone else. Find what works for you.  I want to thank Stephen so much for coming on to share his  story and experiences with all of us. If any of you would like to come on, do not hesitate to reach out! Thank you all so much for listening! I appreciate all of you taking the time to listen to this show. I really enjoy doing it and as we get closer to the 1 year anniversary of the show, I'm determined to keep going. Have a wonderful evening! I love you all!   Chris

I just wanted to update everyone on how my appointments went, along with the results of my MRI! I mentioned the upcoming changes for brain tumor classification system. The episode I referenced is this one: https://braincancerpodcast.podbean.com/e/episode-6-idh-mgmt-explained/ I hope that you are all doing well and feel free to contact me for anything! Chris

Let's kick off 2021 with listening to Paddy from Ireland who was kind enough to come onto the show and share his journey with a brain tumor. He talks about how he noticed the gradual changes which led to the tumor being discovered, the treatment he received, and how having the tumor has changed his life. We also briefly discuss some of the differences between the healthcare system in Ireland and the US.  I want to give a huge thank you to Paddy for coming on and sharing his experiences with all of us!  This was my first time doing a show like this and I hope that you all enjoy it! It was enjoyable to edit and I've been trying to get better each time. The important part is just hearing our conversation but I wanted to make it an enjoyable listening experience no matter how you listen! If you have any tips, feel free to send them to me. This took me a little bit to edit, but I learned so much from it.  If any of you would like to do something similar, just send me an email at braincancerpodcast@gmail.com and we can work something out for both of our schedules! We all had a bit more time in 2020 but that won't stop me from working hard in 2021.  Once again, thank you Paddy! Thank you all so much for your support! It means so much to me and I want to keep this going for as long as I can!   Chris

First thing. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all so much for the support you have shown me since I started this in March 2020. I've had a great time doing this and learning as I go. I promise that I won't stop learning and trying to improve each time. I've met some amazing people and I get excited every time I hear from someone. It might sound cheesy, but it's true. It's rewarding to me to even think that people have taken time out of their hectic lives to listen to this! Thank you all. 2020 has been a very difficult year, but each and every one of you have made this year so much better!   Chris

First off, I want to apologize for some of the audio in this episode. I didn't realize that my mic was picking up every tiny noise and I eliminated as much as I could. I'm going to be a bit more observant and drink extra water next time as well. Thank you for understanding. I wanted to briefly run down what the prep work before starting radiation therapy consists of and share how it went for me. I've included pictures of a couple things I kept from my treatment as a reminder of everything I've been through.  https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/radiation/basics.html https://www.news-medical.net/health/Side-Effects-of-Radiation-Therapy.aspx https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_(unit) https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/radiation-therapy/what-expect-when-having-radiation-therapy https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/radiation-therapy-brain  

Hello! This is just a short update after my day at the hospital on Friday, December 18th! I was trying some different EQ settings and I'm still trying to find what sounds level and not too bad. Thank you so much for tuning in. I'm going to be recording again very soon as well as making an episode outlining some of my goals for 2021. This past year has been a little bit hectic for all of us. We're almost through it though.   Chris

I just wanted to say happy Thanksgiving to all of you out there! I'm so thankful for each and every one of you and how you have made such a positive impact on my life! No matter where you are in the world, Thanksgiving or not, tell someone "thank you" today. Reach out to someone, tell someone who has helped you in any way. This doesn't need to be a one day only thing either! Spread some positivity! We are all in similar but different journeys. It can be very difficult. That's why we need to appreciate the time we do have and share a little positivity. The world needs it right now! Finally, I know the audio quality on this episode is not great. I forgot to move my foam pads and didn't have my usual prerecording things available. I tried to clean it up as best I could, but I was pretty much just talking and tried using a different recording position for my mouth and mic. I'm going to test a few other positions for the mic/mouth to reduce annoying noises.  Thank you all. For everything. Chris

Hello! I just wanted to update everybody after my MRI and treatment. I was hoping to record today but due to a whole lot of noise from outside, I have a massive headache and I will try to tomorrow! Unless, the same thing happens again. Which, does seem likely.  Thank you all so much for your support! I also posted the link to the BPM which is my go-to spot after my MRIs.   Chris Boston Public Market

Hello! Thank you all for taking the time to listen to the episode! In this episode, we go over some of the more common medications you'll hear about when dealing with a brain tumor diagnosis. Please check out the links provided below for additional information.  Feel free to contact me for anything you need at Braincancerpodcast@Gmail.com  Links from the episode: https://www.drugs.com/sfx/dexamethasone-side-effects.html https://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/medications-treat-seizures https://www.drugs.com/sfx/keppra-side-effects.html https://www.drugs.com/zofran.html https://www.drugs.com/article/taking-your-medicine.html https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-8486-4217/lamictal-oral/lamotrigine-chewable-dispersible-tablet-oral/details#

Hello! I just wanted to make my update episode from my day getting my infusion at the hospital today. It turned into quite a long day, but it could always be worse! The next episode has already been recorded and will be out soon!    Thank you so much, everybody!   Chris

I wanted to record an episode the evening after I got home from my treatment day at the hospital. I have no officially hit 4 years post-glioblastoma and I'm looking to add a whole lot more! Thank you all so much for the support. Despite the generally poor prognosis, those are just numbers. Every person is different and every case is different. Treatments are being studied all the time and new clinical trials can be the breakthrough therapy of tomorrow. The past few weeks have had me busy with ripping apart the whole area of my bedroom where I record while I built a new desk/pc, and improve my overall space. I just had a bit of a mess and went through a lot of extra effort in cable management so I didn't have wires and cords all over!   - Chris   References: https://www.abta.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ABTA-National-Conference-Program-Booklet_FINAL.pdf https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsK91mnT112KibIFx8anlHQ