New Sightings

Brain cancer is...

...continuing to make new discoveries.

Bird Discovery

On our walk this morning, Darrell sighted a fellow who was different from his crew, including  (a) the squirrel (b) the Canada geese. 

We noticed that the new guy (circled, above) was smaller than the Canada geese, had an orange bill and legs, and had different color markings, including a white ring above his beak.  After much research, our assessment of Darrell's bird discovery?  A greater white-fronted goose. 

We'll keep watching to ensure that this guy is not really another type of domestic goose with whom he is so often confused:  the Graylag.  In either case, it was an exciting way to start the day, this bird discovery.

(Geoff:  At least we're not writing about coots, yes?)

Cancer Community Discovery

In the mail, Darrell discovered this card from UCLA:

It gives UCLA's current and upcoming clinical trials for GBM.  There are no trials for someone in Darrell's great shape (finished treatment for newly diagnosed GBM, no sign of recurrence), but I know we all keep our eye on GBM treatments as they unfold. Wow!  Look at all that hope!

Of course the trials on the card drove me to the Internet to do some studying.  And, as is the way of the Internet, that search led me to others.

Intrigued by the last trial on the list above (DCVax-1), I found this great blog posting (click here), which details the emergent therapies for GBM.  I think it does a great job of explaining the various approaches, such as vaccines and viruses, in layperson language.

My final step in the Internet journey led me to the site where the GBM blog post lives:  Cancer Commons (click here), our last discovery for the day.  I can't believe it took us 22 months to make the Cancer Commons discovery! 

Basically, Cancer Commons is a non-profit organization pushing for globalized networking of everyone who is searching for treatment/eradication of a number of cancers (brain, breast, lung, prostate, melanoma, and neuroendocrine tumors).  According to the site, they will (at no cost to patient) review a case, consult with cancer experts, and give evidence-based opinions.

We are posting the site because so many Team D members are also members of other teams, facing so many kinds of cancer.  We think of you and your loved ones so often.

All these new sightings have worn us out for the day.  Good night, Team D.