New Fundraiser - doesn't cost you anything - please participate! I really need help with this fundraiser.. It is simple, and doesn't cost you anything: There has been a huge settlement in a class action lawsuit. Most people are eligible, but each person gets only a small settlement. However, if we get a lot of people to donate their claim to the Musella Foundation, it can become significant enough to fund a brain tumor research project!
You just fill out a form on a website to donate your claim to the Musella Foundation. No receipts are needed. Takes very little time.
Please pass this along to all of your friends and ask them to participate and to send it to thier friends. They have to be in by Dec 6, 2012. We only have a few weeks!
Genentech Study Showed That Avastin Helped People with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Live Longer with This was the big news at the Society of Neuro-oncology conference this weekend. There was about a 50% improvement in progression free survival by adding Avastin to the standard treatment, over using the standard treatment alone. This means that patients feel better and can take care of themeselves longer with Avastin than without.
However, the question remains when is the best time to use Avastin, right at the start or wait for recurrence. That question is not yet answered. There seems to be (but hasn't been tested yet) about the same time benefit for using at it the time of recurrence rather than at the start. (Although using it at the start allowed patients to functional at the highest level for a longer period of time. ) My own thoughts (and I am not an MD - so take it for what it is worth): My preference would be to enter a clinical trial for newly diagnosed GBM patients and hold off on the Avastin until the time of recurrence. IF you can not enter a trial, then it is a toss-up on when the best time to start Avastin would be. Either way can be argued. There are more trials (such as the Tocagen trial) that now allow you to enter after having had Avastin, so that removes one of the barriers to using Avastin upfront.
Disclosure: Genetech is a sponsor of the Musella Foundation
IBTA E NEWS NOVEMBER 2012 This is the newsletter from our friends at the International Brain Tumor Association!
