Latest news with #glioblastoma
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Man's Deadly Brain Tumor Vanishes After Taking Breakthrough Drug: ‘Lucky Break in a Devastating Situation'
A man with one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer is now hopeful for the future after his tumor completely disappeared thanks to a breakthrough drug. In October 2022, Ben Trotman was 40 years old when he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a rare form of terminal cancer that kills more than 10,000 Americans a year, according to the National Brain Tumor Society. Glioblastoma, also known as GBM, has no known cure. Standard treatment involves surgery to remove the tumor (if possible), followed by radiation and chemotherapy. The disease is considered a highly invasive tumor in the central nervous system because its cells reproduce extremely quickly. Those who are diagnosed with the malignant tumor have a median survival rate of about 14 to 14.5 months. Following his diagnosis, Trotman was referred by a friend to The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery at University College London Hospitals (UCLH). There, Dr. Paul Mulholland, a consultant medical oncologist, recruited Trotman to be the first patient in his clinical trial. The trial involved him receiving the immunotherapy drug ipilimumab to treat his glioblastoma before undergoing any standard treatment. Afterward, Trotman began radiation and chemotherapy. 'The crucial element of this trial is that patients will have their immune system boosted by the drug before they have any other treatment, when they are fit and well enough to tolerate the immunotherapy,' Mulholland said in a press release. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Two years and eight months after being the sole participant in the clinical trial, Trotman, now 43, is tumor-free, and his scans have come back clear. 'It is very unusual to have a clear scan with glioblastoma, especially when he didn't have the follow-up surgery that had been planned to remove all of the tumour that was initially visible on scans,' Mulholland explained. 'We hope that the immunotherapy and follow-up treatment Ben has had will hold his tumour at bay, and it has so far, which we are delighted to see.' Mulholland added that his goal is to find a cure for the 'devastating disease' that is glioblastoma, and he's hoping to move forward with additional patients. Trotman is now married to wife Emily, and the couple welcomed daughter Mabel in April. The couple told the hospital that the clinical trial gave Trotman his life back. 'Getting this diagnosis was the most traumatic experience,' Emily said. 'We were grappling with the fact that Ben had gone from being apparently perfectly healthy to having months to live. Had we not met Dr. Mulholland, that would have been it for us. We felt we had a lucky break in an otherwise devastating situation.' 'We obviously don't know what the future holds, but having had the immunotherapy treatment and getting these encouraging scan results has given Emily and I a bit of hope,' Trotman added. 'We are focused on rebuilding the life we thought we had lost and enjoying being parents.' The new father said he's hoping that his brain cancer journey will give others hope and inspire more patients to participate in the next clinical trial. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Dame Siobhain McDonagh — member of parliament of the UK who lost her sister from glioblastoma in 2023 — led a fundraising campaign and raised more than €1 million to cover the costs of the next trial. 'My beloved sister Margaret was appalled to discover that there had been no advances in brain cancer treatment for decades when she was diagnosed with glioblastoma,' McDonagh said. 'Changing this was Margaret's final campaign and one that I have continued in her memory. I am so grateful to the many people who knew and respected Margaret who have come together and helped to raise funds and campaign for this new trial that we are calling Margaret's Trial.' Mullholland recalled meeting Margaret. 'When I met Margaret, she said to me, 'What can I do to support you to cure this disease?'" 'I am incredibly grateful to her and to Siobhain, whose campaigning and fundraising in her sister's memory has led to this new clinical trial opening for patients with this most aggressive form of brain cancer that has such a poor prognosis.' Read the original article on People
CBS News
19 hours ago
- Health
- CBS News
Orange County family hoping clinical trial saves their mother from brain cancer
An Orange County mom, who survived the unimaginable pain of losing her three young children, is in a desperate fight to save her life. Lori Coble's son and daughters were killed in a crash on the 5 Freeway in 2007. Almost exactly a year later, she gave birth to triplets who are now about to start their senior year in high school. Jake, Ellie, Ashley and their dad Chris are praying and hoping that Lori's glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, discovered just a few weeks ago can be cured. "So much has happened to my family and I can't help but think, why is this happening again?" Ellie said. "It's just so unfair but through both of these trials, we've really built a community and we have so many people looking out for my family and helping us. I couldn't be more grateful for the support." Chris said the brain cancer affects Lori as if she had a stroke. "A bad stroke that affected the left side of her body," he said. "Her motor control is highly restricted. She also can't really see very well because the tumor behind her right eye is affecting her vision. She needs pretty much constant care every moment of the day." Lori recently had surgery to remove part of the tumor. An online fundraiser is collecting money to help cover the costs of in-home care. She'll have a second surgery at City of Hope next week to remove the rest of the tumor, which Chris described as necessary but risky because she could lose complete mobility on her left side. "She's definitely fighting this fight," Ashley said. "I know she's going to try her hardest." Lifting the family's spirits is a new clinical trial at City of Hope. Doctors will use the DNA from a cancerous tumor to create a personalized vaccine. "There have been some patients on this vaccine trial that have lived longer," Lori's neurosurgeon Dr. Benham Badie said. "There is some hope and some preliminary data that this vaccine may work. Every patient is different. We don't know if she will get the vaccine and whether it's going to work for her." The clinical trial is randomized, meaning half of the patients will get the vaccine. Chris said he's run out of tears and is kept awake at night thinking about what his family is going through. "I feel like we've had enough pain in our lives that we could really use a break somewhere along the line," Chris said. "That's not fair to say because every person that has this aggressive brain cancer is going through those same concerns, same tragic realization. I just hope we can see her, keep her alive for as long as possible now."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Fit and Healthy' Dad of Four, 57, Gets Random Whiffs of 'Strange, Sweet Caramel Smell.' It's a Fatal Sign
A 'fit and healthy' man was given the devastating diagnosis that he had an inoperable brain tumor — and his only symptom was that he would randomly smell 'sweet caramel.' Costa Fantis, 57, would randomly smell something sweet, his son, Antonio, said, according to Daily Mail. 'His sense of smell changed and he kept getting this strange sweet caramel smell. We didn't think much of it. We definitely didn't know it was a symptom of something so serious.' Antonio shared that his father, a chip shop owner who hails from the English town of Stoke-on-Trent, would smell the 'sweet smell' sporadically: 'On the odd occasion he would have a caramel smell … it would happen very quickly, and once a month or so.' Since his father struggled with epilepsy as a child, Antonio explains that 'we told him to have a scan and said it's probably going to be in relation to the epilepsy. We weren't really thinking anything of it at all, as he was a really fit and healthy man.' When Costa underwent tests in April 2024, the family was given bleak, unexpected news: He had stage 4 IDH-wildtype glioblastoma. 'There's no cure for glioblastoma," the Mayo Clinic explains. "Treatments might slow cancer growth and reduce symptoms.' And as the National Library of Medicine says, IDH-Wildtype [glioblastoma] — which Costa has — is 'an incurable disease with poor survival.' Antonio explains that the family was 'worried, scared, nervous — but then, still trying to get to grips with the situation and what was going on because he had no symptoms' apart from the smell. "It's really bizarre because symptoms-wise he didn't have much at all," Antonio told the outlet. Phantom smells — like what Costa experienced with the caramel scent — is known as phantosmia, and can, rarely, be a sign of a brain tumor. 'It just kind of proves that you can be a fit and healthy man yet still have something wrong with you,' Antonio tells the outlet, sharing that his father has undergone chemotherapy and radiation for the tumor — but is now looking for alternative treatments, as 'in the last 20 years the treatments haven't changed for glioblastomas.' 'It's quite a scary thing to be diagnosed with,' Antonio says, sharing his family has been told, 'just enjoy your life, in the most harrowing way possible.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Fit and healthy' dad who smelt caramel ended up with aggressive brain cancer
Chip shop owner Costa Fantis received a devastating diagnosis after starting to smell a sweet "caramel" aroma from time to time. After multiple examinations, the dad-of-four received the devastating news he had stage 4 IDH-wildtype glioblastoma, the most aggressive type of brain cancer. Since receiving his diagnosis, the 57-year-old, from Stoke-on-Trent, has received radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the only treatment options offered through the NHS for his type of cancer. The NHS identifies surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted medications as conventional treatments for glioblastoma. In 2005, you were on MySpace. Scrolling through your iPod. Watching the first videos on YouTube. 👾 That was also the last time glioblastoma treatment saw a major breakthrough. Soon, that changes. We're ushering in a new era of genomic testing designed just for glioblastoma —… — Glioblastoma Foundation (@glioblastf) July 16, 2025 Currently, his relatives are trying to raise £350,000 for a potentially life-extending treatment in Germany, with total costs expected to reach approximately £464,000. Antonio, Costa's 27-year-old son who works as a quantity surveyor in Stoke-on-Trent, said: "All of our lives have just been flipped upside down. His sense of smell changed and he kept getting this strange, sweet caramel smell. We didn't think much of it. We definitely didn't know it was a symptom of something so serious." The alteration in Costa's sense of smell remained the only sign anything was wrong. Antonio continued: "It's really bizarre because symptoms-wise, he didn't have much at all. On the odd occasion, he would have a caramel smell, a sweet smell. But it would happen very quickly and once a month or so." "From what we now know they define them as mini seizures; they last seconds; nothing happens to you while you do it." Costa initially suspected he might be dealing with epilepsy, something he had experienced earlier in life. Antonio said that, as a family, they didn't really look into it but advised his dad to get a scan, thinking it was likely linked to his past epilepsy. "We weren't really thinking anything of it at all as he was a really fit and healthy man" However, in April, the family faced a horrible truth - Costa was found to have stage 4 brain cancer. Antonio said: "We were shellshocked. We didn't really know how to take it. "We were worried, scared, nervous, but then still trying to get to grips with the situation and what was going on because he had no symptoms. It just kind of proves that you can be a fit and healthy man, yet still have something wrong with you." Antonio continued: "My dad is a fighter. He's always fought all of his life. His nickname has been Rambo all of his life, because he's just known to get through any battle he's had to face. "He was shocked. He was taken aback. He was stunned. He didn't know how to react and I still don't think he knows how to react. The only things the NHS offer, which is the massive problem and why we're doing the fundraising, is a course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In the last 20 years the treatments haven't changed for glioblastomas in the UK. "So it's quite a scary thing to be diagnosed with, knowing that there's not much the NHS can do. Put it this way, they're telling us in the consultancy meetings not to cut back on anything and just enjoy your life, in the most harrowing way possible." The family refuses to give up hope. Inspired by success stories, they are exploring alternative therapies abroad, such as DC vaccine therapy in Munich, oncothermia as part of a clinical trial in London, a three-phase immunotherapy programme at the IZOK Clinic in Cologne, and peptide vaccine treatment from a specialist lab in Tübingen. The family needs to raise around £464,000 for these treatments, and have already managed to fundraise more than £260,000. If you want the link to his GoFundMe, follow this link. Costa has recently completed his radiotherapy and chemotherapy courses and has demonstrated an encouraging response, although it remains too early to assess the complete impact of these treatments. Antonio said: "It's harrowing what's going on with treatments for GMBs and the progress they've made over the last 20 years, not just for my dad but for every other patient who is suffering with the same thing. "It's almost like you get this and 'bye-bye', because the diagnosis is a grade four brain tumour glioblastoma, that is unmethylated and it's IDH wild type. Those two things mean it's the worst type of brain cancer you can get. But in reality there is so much that can be offered." Recommended reading: 'Breakthrough' for hay fever sufferers as new drug offers 'improved life' Can cyclists be fined for speeding on UK roads? Here is all you need to know John Torode and Gregg Wallace 'off with each other' and 'were never friends' The overwhelming wave of solidarity from their community has profoundly touched the family. Antonio continued: "My dad is a hard-working, typical father figure. Raised three kids, he's got his grandkids. He's loving, he's generous, he'll do anything for anybody. "He's very giving, which is why I think he's reaped the rewards now in terms of people giving back and the GoFundMe. He loves rugby, he used to coach the local football and rugby team when I was growing up. "He's so down to earth, always looking to help people - good morals, good values - but he's a hard worker and he'll fight this just like any battle he has faced before. And he's faced some battles. So this is just going to be another one, it's the toughest test yet."
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
I suffered one extremely bizarre symptom before 'worst cancer diagnosis possible'
A 'fit and healthy' father received a devastating cancer diagnosis after a bizarre symptom triggered a trip to the doctors—a lasting smell of caramel. Stoke-on-Trent chip shop owner Costas Fantis, 57, knew something was wrong when once a month he kept smelling the scent of the sweet treat. After several tests and a biopsy, the dad-of-four was diagnosed with stage 4 IDH-wildtype glioblastoma—the most aggressive type of brain cancer—in April 2024. Costas' son, Antonio, 27, a quantity surveyor, from Stoke-on-Trent, said: 'All of our lives have just been flipped upside down. 'His sense of smell changed and he kept getting this strange sweet caramel smell. 'We didn't think much of it. We definitely didn't know it was a symptom of something so serious.' The unusual change of smell was also Consta's only symptom. Antonio said: 'It's really bizarre because symptoms wise he didn't have much at all. 'On the odd occasion he would have a caramel smell, a sweet smell. But it would happen very quickly, and once a month or so. 'From what we now know, they define them as mini seizures, they last seconds, nothing happens to you whilst you do it.' Costas initially suspected epilepsy, having dealt with it as a child. 'As a family we didn't really look into it much,' Antonio said. 'But we told him to have a scan and said it's probably going to be in relation to the epilepsy. 'We weren't really thinking anything of it at all as he was a really fit and healthy man.' But in April, the family were hit with the life changing diagnosis, Costas had stage four brain cancer. And it wasn't until a biopsy that the full extent of Costas' condition was revealed—the tumour was inoperable. 'We didn't really know how to take it,' Antonio added. 'We were worried, scared, nervous but then still trying to get to grips with the situation and what was going on because he had no symptoms. 'It just kind of proves that you can be a fit and healthy man yet still have something wrong with you.' Since the diagnosis, Costas, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, has completed NHS radiotherapy and chemotherapy - the only treatment currently available in the UK. The family are now fundraising for alternative treatments in Germany. Antonio said: 'The only things the NHS offer, which is the massive problem, and why we're doing the fundraising, is a course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. 'In the last 20 years the treatments haven't changed for glioblastomas in the UK. 'So it's quite a scary thing to be diagnosed with, knowing that there's not much the NHS can do. 'Put it this way, they're telling us in the consultancy meetings not to cut back on anything and just enjoy your life, in the most harrowing way possible.' The disease strikes around 3,000 Britons and 12,000 Americans each year. The Wanted singer Tom Parker (pictured with his wife Kelsey Parker in October 2021) died in March 2022 following an 18-month battle with stage four glioblastoma. He said after his diagnosis that he was 'shocked' at the limited treatment options for GBM and 'massive improvements' were needed Average survival time for glioblastoma is between 12 and 18 months, according to the Brain Tumour Charity. Only 5 per cent of patients survive five years, it says. The disease killed the Labour politician Dame Tessa Jowell in 2018. In 2023 , The Wanted singer Tom Parker also died following an 18-month battle with stage four glioblastoma. He said after his diagnosis that he was 'shocked' at the limited treatment options for GBM and 'massive improvements' were needed. Diagnosed patients usually undergo surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible. This is followed by daily radiation and chemo drugs for around six weeks, after which the drugs are scaled back. Radiation can be then used to destroy additional tumour cells and treat those who are not well enough for surgery. But the cancer can double in size in just seven weeks. For comparison, the fastest-growing lung cancers take 14 weeks to double. Common symptoms include headaches that keep getting worse, nausea and vomiting, blurred or double vision, trouble speaking, altered sense of touch, and seizures.
