Note: Music composed by the musician and free to use.

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"One of the higher functions that a human brain can engage with is the performance of music," says Dr. Bendok. "As you master those instruments, there are certain connections that grow and get enhanced in the brain. The brain likes to be challenged. We know that the more languages you know, the less your risk of dementia. And music happens to be a language."

"Understanding music allows neurologists and neurosurgeons and neuroscientists to better understand the brain," continues Dr. Bendok. "It's a great way to better map the brain, both for enhancing the safety of surgery, but also for exploring new avenues for new therapies for various conditions of the human brain, including degenerative diseases and memory problems. By understanding these pathways that contribute to musical memory and cognitive memory, this will allow us to solve the problems of degeneration like dementia, but also open new opportunities to enhance function."

For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

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Any good actor will tell you: The more you rehearse, the better you perform. It's no different with neurosurgeons.

"A simulator can go a long way to dramatically enhancing learning curves in ways that serve, that provide, allow us to get better and better at what we do," says Dr. Bernard Bendok, a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon.

Dr. Bendok is talking about Mayo Clinic's Simulation and Innovations Lab, which takes digital data of a patient's MRI or CT scan, and creates a 3D-printed model so the surgical team can simulate the actual procedure before it happens.

"If we want to replicate the vessels, we can then cast that model with plastics and materials that replicate blood vessels so that we can take that cast of the vessels and then take it to the procedure room and put our catheters into it. And it's very much similar to putting it into human vessels," says Dr. Bendok.

Surgeons also are viewing digital models with virtual reality.

"We can actually — with our heads-up displays and with our goggles — walk around the model, walk around the aneurysm, get inside it, 'swim through it,' and really get a real three-dimensional feel of what we're up against," says Dr. Bendok.

This state-of-the-art technology is transforming medicine and ultimately providing better care for patients.

For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Using 3D-printed, digital models for brain surgery appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Cameron Kaipainen and his parents spent years searching for explanations to his ongoing and confusing medical problems. It wasn't until arriving at Mayo Clinic in Arizona that the true nature of Cameron's condition was uncovered, giving the family the priceless gift of knowledge.

When Cameron Kaipainen was a child, his mom and dad, Michele and Aron, used to joke that he and his four brothers were each one in a million. Little did they know then that not only is Cameron one in a million, he is one in several billion.

Diagnosed with two extremely rare genetic diseases, Cameron is the only known person to be affected by both conditions. Although his parents spent most of Cameron's 19-year life trying to uncover the reason for their son's developmental delays and medical symptoms, it wasn't until October 2019 that the family, who until recently lived in Puyallup, Washington, discovered the missing pieces of the puzzle after a visit to Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

Following appointments in the Mayo Clinic's departments of Neurosurgery and Clinical Genomics, Cameron was diagnosed with schwannomatosis, a condition that causes benign tumors to grow on nerves, and a chromosomal disorder called 7q11.23 duplication syndrome, which can cause developmental delays, intellectual difficulties, behavioral issues and seizures.

While neither of Cameron's conditions have a cure, the holistic care he's received from his Mayo Clinic team has given the family peace of mind that Cameron is receiving the most knowledgeable care available.

"I can tell Mayo actually cares because they're actually trying to do their best to help me," Cameron says.

Cameron's journey has brought with it emotional highs and lows," Michele says. "It's definitely been a mourning process, but the best part about it is knowing. Having a diagnosis gives us a plan of attack. It gives us the ability to actually understand and know what to expect in the future. This gives us the ability to have goals, and that part is a huge relief."

Perplexing problems

From the time Cameron was an infant, he required extra developmental support. "He was slower at developing when it came to milestones. By the time he was 8 or 9 months old, I'd already gotten him in physical therapy," Michele says. "From then, until he was 13 years old, he did physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy."

Cameron also was slower to learn than his peers, and he had difficulty retaining information. Despite his struggles, he advanced through school with homework support and rigorous involvement from his parents.

More concerning to Cameron's parents than his physical and intellectual delays were his medical symptoms. "Early in his childhood, he started having episodes where he would randomly pass out," Michele says. In 2003, under the recommendation of a neurologist, Cameron underwent a sleep study to evaluate the electrical activity in his brain, but no neurological issues were noted. The fainting was explained as a symptom of low blood pressure and low muscle tone.

"They told us to give him a higher-salt diet because that would help, and eventually he would grow out of it, so we trusted that," Michele says.

In May 2019, Cameron's situation intensified when a fainting incident led to a consult with a cardiologist. During the appointment, Cameron passed out while being examined. That led to hospitalization and an MRI, which revealed the presence of tumors in the spinal column of Cameron's neck.

Ensuing appointments with Seattle-based neurologists and neurosurgeons left the family feeling disappointed, says Michele, explaining that Cameron was diagnosed with a condition called neurofibromatosis — a disorder that affects nerve cells' growth and can cause tumors to grow on nerves, the spinal cord and brain. Michele began researching other treatment centers that specialize in the condition. But when she asked for a referral for a second opinion, she was informed none was needed, and her request was denied.

"The mama bear in me came out. That night, I got online and sent a message to Mayo Clinic through the website," Michele says. She was pleased to receive a call back the next day to schedule an appointment for Cameron at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

Accurate diagnosis

That Cameron's appointment fell on the particular date it did was the first of many indications for his family that they were on the right path. Months before, Cameron had told his parents that, for his senior gift, he wanted to see was one of his favorite singers, Phil Collins. "The tour wasn't coming to the Seattle area, so I bought three tickets for my husband, Cameron and me to go see the concert in Phoenix on Oct. 15," Michele says. "We'd already put in for the time off. Everything was arranged. And when they called and said, 'We can see you on the 14th,' I said, 'That's perfect.'"

"We are just so blessed that we ended up at Mayo Clinic, and everything has fallen into place."

Michele Corey

At Mayo Clinic, Cameron met with Bernard Bendok, M.D., chair of the Department of Neurosurgery, who requested Cameron undergo a CT scan. "Dr. Bendok was wonderful. He wanted better imaging on the tumor at the top of Cameron's spine because it was really close to an artery," Michele says. "There was so much that should've been done elsewhere that wasn't. We are just so blessed that we ended up at Mayo Clinic, and everything has fallen into place."

In addition to obtaining additional imaging of Cameron's tumors, Dr. Bendok referred the family to Radhika Dhamija, M.B.B.S., in the Department of Clinical Genomics. When Dr. Dhamija first visited with Cameron, she recognized that he didn't fit with a typical presentation of neurofibromatosis. The diagnosis Dr. Dhamija thought of when she met Cameron was schwannomatosis, which is similar to neurofibromatosis, but allows for the growth of benign tumors calls schwannomas on the nerve sheath throughout the body.

"I arranged for testing for schwannomatosis," Dr. Dhamija says. "In addition, I noticed that he has a learning disability, and he had a large-sized head, both of which are not a part of schwannomatosis. So we did chromosome testing to see if there's anything different with his chromosomes."

Chromosome testing, referred to as a chromosomal microarray, is performed via a blood test and examines all 23 pairs of chromosomes for small, missing or extra pieces of chromosomes. In Cameron's case, his seventh chromosome contains duplicated information that causes 7q11.23 duplication syndrome.

"So he does have schnwannomatosis, and he has a chromosomal syndrome — two distinct diagnoses — which is very rare in the rare disease community," Dr. Dhamija says.

Better understanding

Learning that Cameron's developmental issues arise from genetic mutations has set the family on a new course. Since diagnosis, Michele, Cameron and the family's two youngest children relocated to Arizona, so Cameron can continue receiving treatment at Mayo.

"It's important that Mayo Clinic was able to diagnose what he has because when we think about clinic trials and research, it places him in an environment where he has access to the latest and greatest in knowledge and clinic expertise," Dr. Bendok says. "This is a disease that requires a focused, interdisciplinary team."

Cameron's treatment currently involves closely monitoring tumor growth and preparing for surgery if the tumor at the top of his spine begins affecting his quality of life. "The brain and the nerves in the spinal cord can only tolerate so much pressure," Dr. Bendok says. "So should the tumor grow a lot, it may cause pain or a decline in his ability to walk. If it grows really big, it will affect his ability to swallow, and could change his voice and affect the function of his tongue."

"Not only do they (the Mayo team) care about the patients, but they care about the family and the family's ability to have resources."

Michele Corey

Because these tumors grow erratically, it is unclear if Cameron will require surgery, which is why he will continue to receive yearly scans to monitor his tumor progression. Beyond that monitoring and further testing for the cause of his fainting episodes, Cameron's care team is working to better understand how his conditions manifest themselves and what that means for his future.

"Schwannomatosis is supposed to be very painful, and the tumors cause pain, but 7q11 has a symptom of extremely high pain tolerance," Michele says. "Cameron hasn't expressed pain, so these doctors have the humanity to relook at how to take care of the schwannomatosis because Cameron doesn't have the symptoms they use to decide things. It's a culture of teamwork, and it's teamwork from the patient all the way up."

Through the many changes the family has faced, the one constant has been the unwavering support offered by their Mayo Clinic team. "Not only do they care about the patients, but they care about the family and the family's ability to have resources," Michele says. "It's their culture, and you can't get better than that. And that is what is going to make not just Cameron's journey, but our journey with the diagnosis and him being the first person in the world to have both these disorders, better."

HELPFUL LINKS

• Learn more about the Department for Clinical Genomics.
• Check out the departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery.
• Explore Mayo Clinic.
• Request an appointment.

The post Cameron’s New Way Forward After Rare Disease Diagnoses appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

As a newlywed couple trying to have a baby, Derin and Sandra Gebhardt were anxious and worried when they failed to conceive. But Mayo Clinic surgeons provided new hope after successfully removing a tumor near Derin's brain that was the cause of their infertility and the root of his other health problems.

When Derin and Sandra Gebhardt got married in 2016, they were eager to start a family. That dream wasn't easy to achieve, however. When they had difficulty getting pregnant, the couple searched for answers. Sandra wondered if the problem could be rooted in hormones. That insight led not only to a solution for their infertility, but also to renewed health for Derin, who had been battling a host of puzzling medical problems.

In his 30s when the couple wed, Derin's health had become a growing concern. "I was not sleeping well," he says. "I had terribly high blood pressure. I was 465 pounds." Although he was eating healthy and exercising, Derin couldn't lose weight.

"I just was scared to death that he was going to die."

Sandra Gebhardt

"I remember talking to my mom, and I was like, 'There's something wrong, but we can't find it,'" Sandra says. "I just was scared to death that he was going to die."

It was when Derin and Sandra tried, to not avail, to have a baby, that Sandra began suspecting that a hormone problem could be at work. She was right. A local doctor confirmed Derin had low testosterone. But there was more. The cause of the hormone imbalance was a benign tumor on Derin's pituitary gland near his brain.

"I kind of had a sense of opening a new door and not knowing where that's going to lead," Derin says. "But also a little bit of relief to say, 'OK, it's not my fault.'"

Treatment began with medication to reduce the size of the tumor. Then Derin traveled to Mayo Clinic in Arizona, where he would undergo surgery to remove the tumor. His Mayo care team confirmed the nature of the tumor and the effect it was having on Derin.

"His hormones were out of whack because of this tumor pushing on the pituitary gland," says Bernard Bendok, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon.

"This particular tumor, called a prolactinoma, produces a hormone called prolactin," says Devyani Lal, M.D., a Mayo Clinic otorhinolaryngologist. "The function of prolactin is to inhibit fertility."

"When Sandra told me she was pregnant, it was an answered prayer. It was wonderful when (Gage) was born, and he was healthy."

Derin Gebhardt

To take out the tumor, a team of Mayo experts from Neurosurgery and Otorhinolaryngology used a minimally invasive procedure that involved two surgeons. Using small instruments inserted through the nostrils, the surgeons successfully removed the entire mass.

After the surgery, Derin's testosterone and prolactin levels went back to normal. Less than nine months later, little Gage Gebhardt arrived six weeks early. "When Sandra told me she was pregnant, it was an answered prayer," Derin says. "It was wonderful when he was born, and he was healthy.

That's the kind of heartwarming news Dr. Bendok is happy to hear. "We often think of endpoints in terms of just the patient's health," she says. "But when you also allow a family to create life together, that is a very meaningful thing."

Watch this video for more about Derin's story:

HELPFUL LINKS

• Learn more about pituitary tumors.
• Check out Neurosurgery and Otorhinolaryngology at Mayo Clinic.
• Explore Mayo Clinic in Arizona.
• Request an appointment.

The post From Tumor to Toddler: A Montana Man’s Path to Fatherhood appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Reporter Jason Howland has his story.

Watch: From tumor to toddler - A Montana man's path to fatherhood

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Nestled among the rolling hills of central Montana is Roundup.

"It got its name from literally rounding up cattle here because of the river and the landscape," says Derin Gebhardt.

It's a small town of 1,100 people where there are no strangers.

"Everybody knows everybody," he says.

A lifelong resident, Derin Gebhardt takes great pride serving as a volunteer firefighter.

"I want to help people. I want to follow my dad's footsteps. I want to make a difference in my community," he says.

And like most in this tiny town, family matters.

"It's important to take care of those around you because one day they may need to take care of you," he says.

He was a newlywed in 2016.

"We dated for eight months and then married after that, and here we are," says Sandra Gebhardt, his wife.

He was in his 30s, but his health was a concern.

"I was not sleeping well," Derin Gebhardt says. "I had terribly high blood pressure. I was 465 pounds."

He was eating healthy and exercising, but couldn't lose weight.

"I remember talking to my mom and I was like, 'There's something wrong, but we can't find it,'" says Sandra Gebhardt. "I just was scared to death that he was going to die."

And they were trying, to no avail, to have a baby. Sandra Gebhardt suggested that the problem might be hormones.

"She comes home and she says, 'I've got a feeling that maybe you have low testosterone,'" says Derin Gebhardt.

Her suspicions were right. And a local doctor confirmed the hormone imbalance was caused by a benign tumor on his pituitary gland near the brain.

"I kind of had a sense of opening a new door and not knowing where that's going to lead you," says Derin Gebhardt. "But also a little bit of relief, like, to say that, 'OK, it's not my fault.'"

Medication to reduce the size of the tumor was first, followed by surgery to remove it at Mayo Clinic's campus in Arizona.

"His hormones were out of whack because of this tumor pushing on the pituitary gland," says Dr. Bernard Bendok, a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon.

"This particular tumor, called a 'prolactinoma,' produces a hormone called prolactin," says Dr. Devyani Lal, a Mayo Clinic otorhinolaryngologist. "The function of prolactin is to inhibit fertility."

The minimally invasive surgery took a team of Mayo experts in neurosurgery and otorhinolaryngology to remove.

"We actually go through two nostrils, and we work as two surgeons with four hands," says Dr. Lal. "We actually use very small microscopic instruments with great precision in what we remove."

Surgeons successfully removed the tumor.

"His testosterone normalized. His prolactin level went to normal. His MRI after surgery showed complete tumor resection," says Dr. Bendok.

And less than nine months later, little Gage Gebhardt arrived six weeks early.

"When she told me she was pregnant, it was an answered prayer," says Derin Gebhardt. "It was wonderful when he was born, and he was healthy. And I changed his first diaper and held him in the NICU (neonatal ICU) — an overwhelming joy and also a feeling of someone else is depending on you now."

"We often think of endpoints in terms of just the patient's health. But when you also allow a family to create life together, that is just a very meaningful thing," says Dr. Bendok.

"It definitely shouldn't have happened from a scientific standpoint, but it did," says Sandra Gebhardt. "And we were very, very excited."

Derin Gebhardt is a doting dad. "You just say, 'Wow, you know, what a blessing,'" he says.

He's lost a significant amount of weight. His blood pressure is normal. He's sleeping well and full of energy, just like his son.

"He really keeps us on our toes," says Sandra Gebhardt.

"He's definitely one to explore," says Derin Gebhardt. "He likes to do his perimeter sweeps around the room and around the house.

I'd love for Gage to grow up and have a happy childhood. The future's bright."

The post From tumor to toddler: A Montana man’s path to fatherhood appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

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"A proportion of these patients will go on to have a rupture. And the challenge with rupture is that it's unpredictable," Dr. Bendok says.

A ruptured aneurysm is a medical emergency because it can cause bleeding in the brain.

"The typical presentation is somebody who has the worst headache of their life," Dr. Bendok says.

Fast treatment is essential. It includes open surgery or less-invasive options, such as sealing the ruptured artery from within the blood vessel with metal coils and/or stents.

Dr. Bendok says 1 to 2 percent of the population have aneurysms, and only a small percentage of that group will experience a rupture.

People who have a family history of aneurysms, have polycystic kidney disease, connective tissue disease, and people who smoke are at increased risk of rupture, and should consider screening.

If a rupture happens, fast treatment can save lives.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: What’s an aneurysm? appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Keith Bruno's family history of aneurysms prompted his primary care physician to order a CT scan during a routine physical. That test and the surgery that followed it saved Keith's life.

Keith Bruno knows all too well the devastating effects an undiagnosed brain aneurysm can have. Keith experienced the pain of losing a loved one when one of his family members died from a massive stroke caused by a brain aneurysm.

Keith might have suffered the same fate if his primary care doctor, Richard Engle, M.D., at Mayo Clinic's Arizona campus, had not recommended that Keith have a CT scan during an annual physical in January. The results of that test proved to be life-changing.

Startling discovery

A few hours after the CT scan, Dr. Engle called Keith to share the unfortunate news that the imaging had uncovered a brain aneurysm. The next step would be another test, a cerebral angiogram, that would gather more information about Keith's condition and help guide his treatment. Those results revealed another ominous finding. Keith, who just turned 60, didn't have just one brain aneurysm but two — with one aneurysm growing on top of the other.

Not only did Keith's family history raise his risk for developing an aneurysm in the first place, it also may have played a role in that unusual shape and in the increased danger the aneurysm posed, according to Bernard Bendok, M.D., chair of Neurosurgery at Mayo Clinic's Arizona campus.

"Family history makes it more likely an aneurysm will be irregular in appearance, including an aneurysm growing on top of an aneurysm," says Dr. Bendok. "Their risk for rupture is also significantly higher. Mr. Bruno's risk of rupture was double or quadruple that of someone with no family history."

"Fifty percent of patients with a ruptured aneurysm won't make it to the hospital. That's why it's so important to see a neurosurgeon that has training in all the techniques to treat an aneurysm."

Bernard Bendok, M.D.

When a brain aneurysm ruptures, it causes bleeding in the brain that quickly can become life-threatening. With that in mind, Dr. Engle knew Keith needed specialty care.

"I talked with Dr. Engle, who's been my doctor for 10 years, about some of the surgical options," Keith says. "Then he referred me to Dr. Bendok."

Keith, who lives in Phoenix, met with Dr. Bendok and Pelagia Kouloumberis, M.D., another Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon. They were concerned about the risk of rupture and advised Keith, who is used to being physically active and exercising four times a week, to decrease his activity.

"They didn't want me to exert myself at all," he says.

Successful surgery

Dr. Bendok and Dr. Kouloumberis discussed with Keith the treatment options available to him. Those options included three procedures: microsurgery with clipping, endovascular coiling and flow diversion.

"Fifty percent of patients with a ruptured aneurysm won't make it to the hospital. That's why it's so important to see a neurosurgeon that has training in all the techniques to treat an aneurysm," Dr. Bendok says. "We holographically and physically simulate the disease and the procedure before a patient arrives for their first consult. Our goal is to help them make the best informed decision and for the team to deliver the safest possible operation."

After careful evaluation, the doctors recommended a titanium clip for Keith. "We created a 3D print of the aneurysm and tested all three treatments," Dr. Bendok says. "Because of its location and its wide neck, we felt clipping would be the safest and most durable option."

"I'm most grateful that my aneurysm was found, and I'm still alive."

Keith Bruno

Dr. Bendok and Dr. Kouloumberis performed Keith's surgery on May 14. All went well. Afterward, Keith spent two days in the hospital and six weeks at home recovering. He recently returned to work as an electrical field inspector for the state of Arizona.

"Everybody was happy to see me," Keith says. "Being at my job reaffirms that I'm healthy again."

Keith traces his path to renewed health back to that routine physical with Dr. Engle. So when his wife found a card emblazoned with the infinity symbol that said "endless thanks" on it, they knew it was just the right message to convey their appreciation. Keith sent the card as a token of gratitude to Dr. Engle for ordering the tests that ultimately saved his life.

"I'm most grateful that my aneurysm was found, and I'm still alive," Keith says. "I was so fortunate to have had this diagnosed before it ruptured and can live a normal life."

HELPFUL LINKS

• Learn more about brain aneurysms.
• Read about the Department of Neurosurgery.
• Talk with others dealing with aneurysms on Mayo Clinic Connect.
• Explore Mayo Clinic's Arizona campus.
• Request an appointment.

The post Early Detection Sparks Swift Treatment for Brain Aneurysm appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

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A brain arteriovenous malformation often is described as a bowl of spaghetti. Arteriovenous malformation can cause severe headaches, seizures and, in some cases, a rupture.

Dr. Bendok says arteriovenous malformations can sit quietly for many years without symptoms and in a fairly unpredictable way cause a brain hemorrhage.

There are several treatments available to patients, including microsurgery; embolization, where glue is injected to close the abnormal vessels; and radiosurgery. As treatments advance, the outlook for people with arteriovenous malformations is positive.

Dr. Bendok says arteriovenous malformations can be scary, but, with modern treatments, there has never been a better time in the history for the treatment of patients with  arteriovenous malformations.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Hope for a rare brain malformation appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Intensive treatment for brain cancer has given Nicholas Sloan the opportunity to continue exploring and enjoying life's adventures. 

Last September, Nicholas Sloan went sky diving for the first time.

"It was awesome. We jumped at 13,500 feet and fell for 60 seconds. It was amazing to watch the world come closer," Nicholas says. "It feels like total freedom. I'd do it again in a heartbeat."

The experience was something of a celebration for being in remission from brain cancer. That remission is thanks in large part to a team effort at Mayo Clinic that offered Nicholas an intensive treatment regimen to control his tumors. And even though his cancer isn't gone, he is happy to have an opportunity to continue moving forward.

"There's a light at the end the tunnel," Nicholas says. "I just need to keep running toward it."

Facing a difficult diagnosis

Four months before his sky-diving adventure, 30-year-old Nicholas had completed 30 proton therapy radiation treatments over six weeks to treat two cancerous glioma tumors. The tumors were in his brain's right frontal lobe and near the left brain stem. They were likely induced by radiation Nicholas had received to treat another type of brain tumor called a medulloblastoma when he was 9 years old.

The new tumors were discovered on a CT scan when Nicholas went to an emergency department near his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, in April 2017. He'd been experiencing numbness on the left side of his face and irritation in his left eye.

"My left eye was only closing 50 percent," Nicholas says. "It would stay open at night, and get red and dried out and irritated."

One morning Nicholas woke up unable to move his left cheek. He was diagnosed with Bell's palsy, a sudden weakness in the facial muscles. The condition was caused by compression of his nerves from the two brain tumors. After reviewing his scans, his primary care doctor referred him to Mayo Clinic's Arizona campus.

Consulting a team of experts

At Mayo Clinic, Nicholas met with Bernard Bendok, M.D., chair of the Department of Neurosurgery, who performed a brain biopsy and confirmed the tumors were gliomas.

"After the biopsy, it was important for Mr. Sloan to have access to a multidisciplinary team whose expertise rounded out the needed skills to successfully treat his tumors," Dr. Bendok says.

Nicholas then consulted with neuro-oncologist Alyx Porter, M.D., and radiation oncologist Terence Sio, M.D., to discuss his treatment options.

"The brain stem is the most critical part of the brain. When a tumor is nearby, it's hard to treat," Dr. Sio says. "His brain and spine received a significant amount of radiation in the past, and further radiation could easily cause more brain damage if not performed properly. It was essential for us to make sure that his normal brain tissue would be protected while trying to treat his tumors."

"It's been an amazing experience. If anyone got sick, I would recommend Mayo in a heartbeat." — Nicholas Sloan

During their first meeting in May 2017, Dr. Sio discussed proton therapy with Nicholas. He explained how this therapy would pinpoint the radiation beam at the tumor while avoiding high levels of radiation to surrounding healthy brain tissue as much as possible.

"With proton beam radiotherapy, I was more confident that I could deliver an adequate amount of radiation to his tumors while still protecting the critical organs in his skull, such as the brain stem and visual structures," Dr. Sio says.

During his proton therapy from June through August 2017, Nicholas also received oral chemotherapy, which he still continues.

"Given the malignant nature of his tumors and disease that was seen along the nerve roots of the spinal canal, we decided to introduce a chemotherapy agent known to be synergistic with radiotherapy to achieve the maximum potential benefit to Mr. Sloan," says Maciej Mrugala, M.D. Ph.D., Nicholas' medical oncologist.

Making good progress

A scan in November 2017 showed one of Nicholas' tumors was shrinking, and the one located next to the brain stem was stable in size. The scan revealed no new cancerous masses elsewhere in his brain or spine.

"Dr. Sio came into the exam room and gave me a hug," Nicholas says.

"Dr. Sio; my brain surgeon, Dr. Bendok; my oncologists, Dr. Mrugala and Dr. Porter; and all of the nurses are the most professional people I've dealt with in medicine," Nicholas says. "It's been an amazing experience. If anyone got sick, I would recommend Mayo in a heartbeat."

A paraeducator for special needs classes and physical education, Nicholas was a week from starting his teaching credentials program at a community college when he was diagnosed with the gliomas. Now he plans to work toward his teaching certificate and travel around the country in the RV he shares with his dad.

"His quality of life is excellent. This is one person's life that we have changed." — Terence Sio, M.D.

"We've gone to the Pacific Northwest since we have a lot of family in the Seattle area," Nicholas says. "We're planning to go to the Daytona 500 and to see the Alamo in Texas. I'd also like to go to Ireland to learn more about my family's roots."

He's also excited to get back to teaching and return to his favorite outdoor activities of fishing and hunting.

Although Nicholas still has symptoms from Bell's palsy, including facial weakness and numbness, the treatment he's received so far has kept his aggressive brain cancer from progressing.

"His quality of life is excellent," Dr. Sio says. "This is one person's life that we have changed."

HELPFUL LINKS

• Read about the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center.
• Learn more about the Proton Beam Therapy Program at Mayo Clinic.
• Connect with others talking about brain tumors on Mayo Clinic Connect.
• Explore Mayo Clinic's Arizona campus.
• Request an appointment

The post Light at the End of the Tunnel After Proton Beam Therapy appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

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Innovative treatments for Moya Moya disease

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