Brain tumor
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive (grade IV) and most common form of a malignant brain tumor. Even when aggressive multimodality therapy consisting of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical excision is used, median survival is only 12–17 months. Standard therapy for glioblastoma multiforme consists of maximal surgical resection of the tumor, followed by radiotherapy between two and four weeks after the surgical procedure to remove the cancer, then by chemotherapy, such as temozolomide. Most patients with glioblastoma take a corticosteroid, typically dexamethasone, during their illness to relieve symptoms. Experimental treatments include targeted therapy, gamma knife radiosurgery, boron neutron capture therapy and gene therapy.
Gerry Pencer
On May 23, 1997, Gerry Pencer was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme, an advanced-stage extremely aggressive cancerous brain tumour. Thereafter he and his wife Nancy became significant philanthropists of brain tumor medicine and research, including founding "The Gerry & Nancy Pencer Brain Trust", which seeks to a difference in the quality of life of those with brain tumors.