Migrating to UCLA

Wed 07/25/07
Susan's dad and our friend Vicki joined Susan and me for an 8:30am meeting at UCLA with neuro-oncologist Leia Nghiemphu, one of Dr. Cloughesy's team. She said the MRIs show significant tumor mass remaining that would benefit from another surgery, and a good part of it appears accessible vs sensitive brain tissue.
An associate UCLA neurosurgeon, Dr Liau, uses a wake-sleep method to actually converse with the patient during brain surgery in order to identify and avoid damaging areas for speech, motor control, etc. This would follow a brain-mapping MRI for such orientation before surgery. Impressive.
Dr Nghiemphu will use the Mayo Clinic's pathology reports or do her own for an important test – if the tumor cells are of a particular kind and lack 2 specific chromosomes, radiation therapy could shrink the tumor prior to the 2nd surgery.
Next, we had a 1pm meeting at LB Memorial Radiation Oncology where Susan was fitted with a thermoplastic mask to hold her head securely in place for radiation treatments. The technicians also performed a contrasted CT scan that will be used to plan her therapy. A physicist will run computer models for the oncologist to eliminate trial & error adjustments before Susan ever has her first treatment. Also impressive.
Last, we visited Susan's primary care doctor, Marc Sonne to investigate the abdominal pain she's had for a week. He ordered a CT scan for Thu.
Meanwhile, Dr Julio Ibarra, director for pathology at LBMMC said he would fax me the Mayo Clinic results he had received. He took a personal interest in Susan's case while at breakfast two weeks ago with her brother Randy. "Coincidentally," Randy's company (Cleveland Golf) donates a portion of sales from women's golf clubs for cancer research, of whom Dr Ibarra is a beneficiary. Another blessed connection.