Hello! Thank you all for tuning in! I really wanted to do another episode talking about the importance of mental health care combined with a brain cancer diagnosis. These past two years have been a challenge for all of us. This episode might sound a little bit all over, but I was just talking about how I felt and what has helped me in my own life. 

It is easy to get trapped in our own thoughts and we all have different experiences, resources are available for us. If there are any specific topics you would like to hear about, let me know!! Or, you can come on and share your own personal experiences as a patient or caregiver to the community! Never hesitate to reach out if you need anything or you want to talk. I'm just an email or message away! 

I love you all!

Chris

Hello! I wanted to get this episode out before I leave town for a few days for the whole holiday season. I wanted to make an episode about some of the most common types of surgery that happen in the world of brain tumors. If any of you would like a more thorough episode dedicated to newer surgical procedures like robot-assisted surgery, micro surgery, and/or laser surgery, let me know! In addition, tell me what YOU want to hear. I am here for you all. I'm sorry if some of the audio is not as great, I wasn't able to do be usual pre-recording things like having some warm tea and drinking plenty of water before. I also plan to test out some new EQ and compression settings to try and improve my recording as well. I'm really trying to improve as I go and I've learned how to improve in other areas. I could invest in a preamp with a way to control the recording levels but I already record to an external recorder. That's an option but it might be a little bit! I appreciate everything you all have done for me. You all have had such a positive effect on my life. I am excited to go into 2022 and trying my best to be informative and keep sharing my own personal experiences. While it certainly isn't always easy, I stop to think just how fortunate I have been. 

I hope you enjoy and please let me know what you would like. Feedback is great! I love you all!

 

Chris

 

Links:

https://www.abta.org/brochures/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3kXCC3h1dw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVG6X6KNV2E

Happy Thanksgiving. I think it's important that we all take a minute to think about the things we are thankful for. I am thankful for you. Without you, we wouldn't have a show! Every one of you is special and you should feel loved, because you are. You are the reason why we will keep this thing going! It does not matter if your country doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving. We don't need a holiday to recognize what we are thankful for.I love you all

 

Chris

Hello, everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween as we head into November! This is an episode I had recorded a while ago and finally finished! I hope the audio sounds ok. I've since improved my recording area with some additional acoustic foam panels. I tried to give a quick breakdown on various types of immunotherapy. I should be recording again either tomorrow night or Tuesday. I want to give my personal experience as I close in on the end of my Temodar cycles. Thank you all so, so much! I've definitely gotten behind and I apologize. Here are some of the links I mentioned in the episode.

 

https://www.headandneckcancer.org.au/treatment/emerging-therapies/immunotherapy

https://www.cancerresearch.org/immunotherapy/cancer-types/brain-cancer

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/immunotherapy/checkpoint-inhibitors

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/immunotherapy/types/checkpoint-inhibitors

https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/immunotherapy/car-t-cell1.html

http://www.ucihealth.org/medical-services/brain-tumor-program/brain-tumor-treatments/immunotherapy-brain-tumor-vaccine

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/immunotherapy/monoclonal-antibodies

https://www.cancerresearch.org/immunotherapy/cancer-types/brain-cancer

In this episode, I explain why I was away for a bit and our future plans going forward. I'm just excited to be back behind the mic again!

Chris

I meant to get this out faster but had a couple things keeping me always a day behind. The next episode is already halfway through the editing process. I'm actually going to be switching over to Audacity 3.0.2 but I had started editing on the older version. So, I don't think there are many major changes but I will do some shorter episodes as well after the next one!

You all are amazing and I cannot thank you enough. It has just been a rough and busy few weeks and my brain feels like it can't stop to focus on one thing at a time. I'm excited for some nice weather, recording some episodes, and enjoying working on the garden and my photography.

I love you all!

Chris

Hello, everyone! I just wanted to turn my recorder on and talk into my mic for a little bit. It's just me talking about a few things going on in my life. I needed to talk and you all are awesome! I know I can count on you. Yes you, reading this!

The next episode has been recorded and I need to get started on editing it. I'm going to try to get it done as quickly as possible. I tend to want things to sound as best as they can for you all.

Thank you all for everything you do for me!

 

Chris

Hello! I hope you are all doing well! I explain why I wasn't recording for a few weeks and I am so sorry! This episode took me around 5 or 6 days to finally finish editing and get posted. I have no idea what happened during my recording, but possibly one of my fans kicked on and I had ridiculous amounts of junk noise to remove in post. I did 2 passes with noise reduction but any more than that and I would have ruined the recording. So hopefully this sounds alright to you all. I may have spent 8 or so hours working on cutting this down to a reasonable length as well. 

I don't know how I somehow never covered the topic of chemo and temozolomide. 

I've got a lot of links for you here! 

https://healthonline.washington.edu/sites/default/files/record_pdfs/How-Take-Temozolomide-(Temodar).pdf

^This is a great guide on properly taking your Temodar.^

https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/brain-tumour-diagnosis-treatment/treating-brain-tumours/adult-treatments/chemotherapy/temozolomide/

https://www.cancernetwork.com/view/role-temozolomide-cns

Below is the MGMT paper I referenced 

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa043331

If anyone is interested, here is the link to the show about IDH/MGMT.

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-byggz-dc0367

 

Thank you all so much for tuning in. Please feel free to reach out at any time because you're never alone here! 

I love you all!

Chris

Hello! I'm so sorry for the lack of shows the past 2-3 weeks. It's been a very busy, stressful and overall not great week but I've tried to get myself right because I was able to take some fairly nice walks outside a few days ago. 

I just wanted to share how my day at the hospital went and to just sit down and talk through how I've been feeling. It really does help me.

Thank you all for listening and I hope you know how much you all help me. 

I love you all!

Chris

Hello! I hope you're all doing well!

I just wanted to make an episode addressing mental health in the brain cancer community. It has been a difficult year for all of us. Having to deal with the pandemic and shutdown while still going through our own care. 

I had planned on putting this out a few days ago but a combination of things meant that it took me a bit longer. Lots of things have been going on but I was determined to get this out today for you all. 

Thank you all so much for the support and don't hesitate to reach out to me for any reason! I love you all!

 

Chris