and at VGH, is the first and only neurosurgeon in Canada to use a robotic laser system called NeuroBlate that heats and kills cancer cells in primary or recurrent brain tumours. More information can be found at Toyota, head of neurosurgery at the University of B.C. James Perry, will look at whether patients live longer and what dose is most effective. The Canadian arm of the study, being co-led by Downie’s neuro-oncologist, Dr. Kevin Petrecca, an associate professor in NeuroOncology at the Brain Tumour Research Centre at McGill University’s Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, where the first patient in Canada was enrolled in the study.“Tocagen’s innovative approach to fighting recurrent brain cancer using cancer-selective gene therapy is the kind of cutting-edge investigational treatment that we want to offer patients,” he said in a press release. “Brain tumours are extremely challenging to treat, and with 27 Canadians diagnosed each day, there is an urgent need for new therapies,” said Dr. senator Ted Kennedy are two high-profile individuals who died from the same type of cancer as Downie. After relapse, median survival is typically seven to nine months. Patients newly diagnosed with GBM who receive standard therapy have a median survival of 14 to 16 months.
In many cases, surgeons are unable to safely remove the entire tumour, which is why many weeks of followup radiation and chemotherapy is necessary. It becomes resistant to most chemotherapy drugs, has a tendency to recur, and is in such an intricate part of the body.
The disease is highly lethal because it grows silently, quickly and invasively. Toyota said based on news reports, it would appear Downie has been undergoing standard treatment for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The tumour in his left front temporal lobe was detected in December, after Downie had a seizure in Kingston where he lives. It doesn’t matter who you are.”Īlthough his cancer is incurable, Downie, 52, has been given the green light by his doctors to go on a concert tour across Canada this summer. “But once again, we are reminded that cancer plays no favourites. “It seems a bit callous and cruel to say, but if there’s any silver lining to someone’s else’s dark cloud then it would be that Gord would be grateful if his celebrity is used to raise awareness that helps lead to a cure. “There are some longer-term survivors, but the likelihood of living to two years after a diagnosis of glioblastoma is only about 25 per cent,” said Dr.
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