Milestones Matter
- The Wanted’s Tom Parker, who is currently battling glioblastoma, welcomed his second child with wife Kelsey Hardwick.
- The expected survival rate for glioblastoma patient is two years. A relatively new treatment option called Optune has shown to extend survival rates up to 5 years.
- Cancer survivors say milestones can mean even more during treatment.
Although Parker, 32, and wife Kelsey Hardwick, 30, haven’t publicly shared a photo of their second child yet, their close friend and Parker’s bandmate Max George confirmed Hardwick gave birth last week and Parker is staying strong during his battle with glioblastoma the most common brain tumor found in adults. The singer announced he had been diagnosed with an “inoperable” brain tumor two weeks ago, and is currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments in an effort to shrink the tumor.
Read MoreThis new addition marks the couple’s second child. Hardwick gave birth to their daughter Aurelia Rose Parker in June 2019, and announced in May that they were expecting a baby boy. Welcome to the world baby Parker!
An Exciting Option For Brain Cancer Patients
Glioblastoma is an extremely aggressive and fast growing disease, and over the years there’s been very little progress in detecting new treatment options. On average, glioblastoma patients have an expected survival rate of just 2 years, but a new treatment option for patients has shown huge promise in extending that time frame.
Optune is a tumor-treating therapy which comes in the form of a head cap attached by adhesive pads. Electric currents run through these pads which disrupt the division of cancer cells. This can cause the growing cells to slow down and therefore delay the disease from progressing. As a result of this, patients who use Optune may be able to see their survival rate extend. In clinical trials that gave patients Optune, in addition to standard treatment, two more years were added to half of the patients’ median survival, and a third of patients saw their survival rates go up by five more years.
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"I just want to emphasize to patients that when I first started doing this in 1999, there were maybe less than 5% of patients with this disease that were alive two years," Dr. Suriya Jeyapalan, a Neuro-oncologist at Tufts Medical Center, told SurvivorNet in a previous interview. "Now we're getting out to maybe a third of patients alive at five years. This is not your father's brain tumor, and I want to sort of give a message of hope to patients. In the future we'll add to these treatments and make it even better."
Dr. Suriya Jeyapalan explains how Optune can extend glioblastoma patients’ survival rates
During Cancer Treatment, Milestones Matter
Facing a cancer battle can sometimes distract people from enjoying important moments. However, occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, or births can really mean even more during treatment. It’s important to take a step back and appreciate what you can, and remember milestones don’t mean any less.
Chrissy Degennaro has been battling a blood cancer called multiple myeloma for 14 years, and doesn’t take one special moment with her family for granted. She was first diagnosed when she was 36-years-old, and had a son to take care of by herself. Initially, she didn’t expected to see him enter kindergarten, but in order to watch him grow up she’s continued fighting.
Over the past 14 years, she’s gone through 27 rounds of chemotherapy, two stem cell transplants, participated in a CAR T cell trial, and had two CAR T cell transplants. Needless to say it’s been a difficult road, and continues to be, but she’s enjoying every day to the fullest.
“You know, I do live one day at a time,” Chrissy tells SurvivorNet. “Now, maybe I can go a week, a month, but things are looking pretty good. I’m able to be here for more milestones for my son, for more holidays, more birthdays. I do feel like I have had another chance at life.”
Chrissy Degennaro enjoys milestones during her 14-year cancer battle
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