Ted Schrubbe, of Elm Grove, initially chalked up his excessive fatigue and complications to a chilly. On Dec. 5, 2022, on the age of 39, the dentist made the rounds in his follow and struggled to get out the appropriate phrases, drawing puzzled seems from sufferers and colleagues. A involved hygienist urged him to hunt medical care instantly.
Later that evening, Ted was shocked when a CT scan revealed a mass in his mind — what he would later study was glioblastoma, an aggressive mind tumor.
“Ted is like so a lot of my sufferers — an in any other case wholesome man residing life and feeling utterly fantastic when unexpectedly, he experiences some neurologic modifications and life ideas the wrong way up,” mentioned Jennifer Connelly, MD, neuro-oncologist and Medical School of Wisconsin school member.
Offering a Affected person-Centered Expertise for Mind Tumor Remedy
Ted was first evaluated at a hospital outdoors the Froedtert & MCW well being community. Workers there advisable fast surgical procedure, however Ted determined to get a second opinion by way of the Froedtert & MCW Most cancers Community and its Mind and Backbone Tumor Program.
“I’m grateful I did,” Ted mentioned. “The atmosphere had a very completely different really feel. It was a patient-centered expertise that I used to be in command of, and I felt much more comfy with the therapy plan.”
“Whereas Ted’s illness isn’t curable, it’s treatable,” mentioned Max Krucoff, MD, neurosurgeon and MCW school member. “The therapy targets are to maximise survival and high quality of life. That entails eradicating as a lot of the tumor as we are able to safely after which following with radiation remedy and chemotherapy to maintain it from coming again so long as potential.”
The avocado-shaped tumor was lodged in Ted’s left frontal lobe, the speech space of the mind. After giving Ted steroids for every week to scale back irritation, Dr. Krucoff carried out an awake craniotomy. That allowed the surgical group to observe Ted’s speech and protect crucial mind tissue. Though Ted was awake at occasions in the course of the surgical procedure, he was stored comfy with anesthesia.
“I may see proof that his mind had remapped due to the tumor, so it was essential for him to be awake in the course of the surgical procedure,” Dr. Krucoff mentioned. “In any other case, he may have developed everlasting speech deficits.”
Earlier than the process, Ted was given 5-ALA — generally known as the “pink drink” — which made his tumor cells glow pink underneath blue mild. Guided by the fluorescence, electromagnetic neuronavigation and intraoperative MRI, Dr. Krucoff was in a position to take away 95% of Ted’s tumor.
Ted additionally participated in a scientific trial to assist researchers perceive how tumors have an effect on the mind’s functioning and interconnections. The trial concerned a practical MRI and fantastic motor talent testing earlier than surgical procedure after which once more three months later. After surgical procedure, Ted had six weeks of radiation remedy and a 12 months of chemotherapy. Michael Straza, MD, PhD, radiation oncologist and MCW school member, used a volumetric modulated arc remedy method.
“This system guides the therapy exactly to the place the tumor is and the place any microscopic tumor cells could also be hiding,” Dr. Straza mentioned. “It additionally bends and shapes the radiation beam so it avoids wholesome mind tissues.”
Tumor-Treating Fields Remedy for Glioblastoma
Ted’s therapy plan additionally included tumor-treating fields remedy (TTFields), a wearable system that creates electrical fields that disrupt most cancers cell division. Sufferers are inspired to put on the system not less than 75% of the time, however Ted wears his virtually continuously to stave off a tumor recurrence so long as he can.
By all of it, Ted’s spouse, Darcie, has been a continuing help in navigating the challenges.
“I’ve a tremendous spouse,” Ted mentioned. “This may be exhausting to do alone.”
Multidisciplinary Mind and Backbone Tumor Program Staff
Mind and Backbone Tumor Program consultants meet weekly to debate optimum methods to deal with every affected person.
“This multidisciplinary group has a long time of expertise in managing mind tumors, that are uncommon illnesses,” Dr. Connelly mentioned. “That makes a distinction in affected person outcomes — not solely by way of high quality of life, but in addition in general survival.”
“The true energy of getting a neurooncology group is with the ability to map out for sufferers not simply the following a number of weeks or months, however how we method one thing we all know will possible come again sometime,” Dr. Straza mentioned. “We provide a number of investigator-initiated research distinctive to our Most cancers Community, in addition to nationwide research, for individuals in that place.”
Within the meantime, Ted is doing all the pieces he can to care for himself — and loving life an excessive amount of to emphasize about his subsequent mind scan. He misplaced 50 kilos and embraced a more healthy weight-reduction plan, sleep and train routine. He determined to not return to work and is as an alternative having fun with time with Darcie and their two daughters, in addition to hobbies like biking and yoga.
“I’m in a superb place now,” Ted mentioned. “I really feel one of the best I’ve ever felt.”
