Glioblastoma Brain Tumor: An Optune Gio Journey - Ep 3/5

Connect NOW: https://bit.ly/ConnectOptuneGio A diagnosis of glioblastoma brain tumor does not come with a warning. For Chris, it started with a rushing sound in his ear, parking at strange angles, brief vision disturbances, and moments of lost balance he had overlooked. These subtle but frequent brain cancer symptoms went unnoticed for a while, until medical scans revealed what his doctors described simply as a big mass that needed to go. In this episode of Perspective, Chris and his wife share their story openly and honestly. Because when you are living with a glioblastoma brain tumor, sometimes dark humor is not avoidance. It is survival. A primary brain tumor like glioblastoma is unlike most cancers. It does not originate outside the brain and travel inward. It starts within the brain itself, infiltrating surrounding tissue rather than metastasizing through the bloodstream. It is also rare, accounting for roughly one to two percent of all cancers, with around 15,000 to 16,000 GBM cases diagnosed in the United States each year. When Chris's oncologist introduced the Optune Gio device, his wife's first reaction was skepticism. Knowing Chris, she doubted he would stick with something so physically present and demanding. But he did, and since then, they both believe it is playing a meaningful role in how his condition has progressed. His oncologist includes it as part of the standard of care for glioblastoma, not as a cure, but as a therapy designed to support ongoing management of the disease over time. Important Safety Information What is Optune Gio® approved to treat? Optune Gio is a wearable, portable, FDA-approved device indicated to treat a type of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in adult patients 22 years of age or older. Newly diagnosed GBM If you have newly diagnosed GBM, Optune Gio is used together with a chemotherapy called temozolomide (TMZ) if: • Your cancer is confirmed by your healthcare professional AND • You have had surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible Recurrent GBM If your tumor has come back, Optune Gio can be used alone as an alternative to standard medical therapy if: • You have tried surgery and radiation and they did not work or are no longer working AND • You have tried chemotherapy and your GBM has been confirmed by your healthcare professional. Who should not use Optune Gio? Optune Gio is not for everyone. Talk to your doctor if you have: • An implanted medical device (programmable shunt), skull defect (missing bone with no replacement), or bullet fragment. Optune Gio has not been tested in people with implanted electronic devices, which may cause the devices not to work properly, and Optune Gio has not been tested in people with skull defects or bullet fragments, which may cause Optune Gio not to work properly • A known sensitivity to conductive hydrogels (the gel on the arrays placed on the scalp like the ones used on EKGs). When Optune Gio comes into contact with the skin, it may cause more redness and itching or may rarely cause a life-threatening allergic reaction Do not use Optune Gio if you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant. It is not known if Optune Gio is safe or effective during pregnancy. What should I know before using Optune Gio? Optune Gio should only be used after receiving training from qualified personnel, such as your doctor, a nurse, or other medical staff who have completed a training course given by Novocure®, the maker of Optune Gio. • Do not use any parts that did not come with the Optune Gio Treatment Kit sent to you by Novocure or given to you by your doctor • Do not get the device or transducer arrays wet • If you have an underlying serious skin condition on the scalp, discuss with your doctor whether this may prevent or temporarily interfere with Optune Gio treatment What are the possible side effects of Optune Gio? Most common side effects of Optune Gio when used together with chemotherapy (temozolomide, or TMZ) were low blood platelet count, nausea, constipation, vomiting, tiredness, scalp irritation from the device, headache, seizure, and depression. The most common side effects when using Optune Gio alone were scalp irritation (redness and itchiness) and headache. Other side effects were malaise, muscle twitching, fall and skin ulcers. Talk to your doctor if you have any of these side effects or questions. Please visit OptuneGio.com/Safety for the Optune Gio Instructions For Use (IFU) for complete information regarding the device’s indications, contraindications, warnings, and precautions. Recommended Videos:    • Glioblastoma Brain Tumor: Why I Chose Optu...      • Glioblastoma Treatment: From Diagnosis to ...      • Fighting Glioblastoma Brain Cancer Against...      • Glioblastoma Treatment Might Give Me More ...      • Glioblastoma Brain Tumor: My Optune Gio Ex...