Brain Surgeon Beats Cancer Odds

What Dr. Sam Hassenbusch Has Learned About His Treatment Can Help And Inspire Others

(CBS)  Sam Hassenbusch is a loving husband, father and grandfather. He's also a brain surgeon at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston who was diagnosed nearly two years ago with a deadly brain tumor called a glioblastoma.

He got all the standard treatment: surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy, CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric reports. Then he volunteered for a clinical trial.

"If there's something new, try it on me. If it works, that's great. If it doesn't, well, that's why I've devoted my life to medicine," Hassenbusch says. "It was really swinging for the fences."

According to the National Cancer Institute, there are more than 4,000 government-funded clinical studies to fight cancer. You can find out about them by going to the Cancer.gov Web site.

Once you get there, click on "clinical trials," and then choose the first link on the list. You'll be asked what type of cancer you have, how far advanced it is, and where in the country you're willing to go for treatment. Another click, this time on "search," will reveal which treatments are a good match and how experimental they actually are.

"When you have a deadly disease such as this, patients really do need to be in clinical trials because that's where the cutting-edge medical therapy is," says Dr. Amy Heimberger of MD Anderson Cancer Center.

When Hassenbusch was diagnosed, Heimberger was already developing an experimental treatment, an injection that attacks cancer cells that have a particular protein that fuels a glioblastoma's rapid growth. Less than 50 percent of all glioblastomas have it, and Hassenbusch was lucky his did.

Heimberger and her study partner, John Sampson at Duke University, had found that patients who were given the shot — a kind of immunotherapy — lived twice as long as those who only had chemo.

"So, it really did come down to, well, are we going to give him the chemo? Are we going to give him the immunotherapy?," Heimberger explains.

"I said to her, 'Well, can I do both?' and she said, 'Well, nobody's ever done this before for brain tumors,'" Hassenbusch says. "And I said, 'Don't worry about it. Look, just think of me as a six-foot-large research rat. And just go ahead and just do whatever you would do to a rat.'"

Hassenbusch has defied expectations by surviving this long. He's able to ride his motorcycle to work every day. Although he is no longer operating, he still consults on cases — and he's paved the way for 11 others to join the same clinical trial, with possibly 100 more to come this spring.

"This is not necessarily a cure, but this is certainly looks to be a promising step in the right direction for hope for these patients," Heimberger says.

His message to others facing a dire diagnosis: You don't have to be a brain surgeon like him to identify the right doctors and the right treatment.

"Buy yourself some plane tickets. Go to the leaders in the field and see what options are gonna come up. Don't just stay right where you are," Hassenbusch says.

This living science experiment has no intention of staying where he is. He plans not only to prolong his own life, but to inspire and save the lives of others who are following in his footsteps.

[aholichdunn]

Thank you, Katie Couric, for putting a very human face on a cancer about which the public is woefully unaware, and for which research funding is pitifully meager, in comparison to other cancers. My husband is also a GBM warrior, celebrating *27 months* today since his surgery. We were initially told he may have as little as three months, but after a tremendously successful surgery, and two years of the gold standard treatment, his tumor recurred. Like Dr. Hassenbusch, he is now in a cutting-edge clinical trial (through Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston) that uses a new class of chemotherapy. After one month, his tumor decreased by over 30%. Also like Dr. Hassenbusch, we are thrilled with his response, not only for him, but for every other GBM patient who will follow. There is more HOPE today for brain tumor warriors and their families, and we pray there will be more recognition, not only in awareness, but in funding for important research to change what is a devastating diagnosis and grim prognosis to something about which doctors will be able to say "we can help, and you'll live for many years to come." With our deepest gratitude, Katie Couric, for sharing Dr. Hassenbusch's VERY important story.

[aholichdunn]

Thank you, Katie Couric, for putting a very human face on a cancer about which the public is woefully unaware, and for which research funding is pitifully meager, in comparison to other cancers. My husband is also a GBM warrior, celebrating *27 months* today since his surgery. We were initially told he may have as little as three months, but after a tremendously successful surgery, and two years of the gold standard treatment, his tumor recurred. Like Dr. Hassenbusch, he is now in a cutting-edge clinical trial (through Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston) that uses a new class of chemotherapy. After one month, his tumor decreased by over 30%. Also like Dr. Hassenbusch, we are thrilled with his response, not only for him, but for every other GBM patient who will follow. There is more HOPE today for brain tumor warriors and their families, and we pray there will be more recognition, not only in awareness, but in funding for important research to change what is a devastating diagnosis and grim prognosis to something about which doctors will be able to say "we can help, and you'll live for many years to come." With our deepest gratitude, Katie Couric, for sharing Dr. Hassenbusch's VERY important story.

I was stunned by the timeliness of your story. Not all glioblastomas are as deadly as that you describe. The day before hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans Dr. Keith Black, Director of the Maxine Dunitz unit at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai hospital, removed an Anaplastic Astrocytoma,a grade 3 gliosblstoma from my cerebellum. A 6 week course of radiation and monthly 5-day cycles of Temodar, a truly remarkable drug, have given my life back to me. I am, for now, cancer-free, a survivor, and I am optimistic about my future. Bravo, Katie for contributing memorably to the experience of brain cancer knowledge and survival. Thank you.

[feathrd7]

My husband was treated with the monoclonal antibody regimen at Duke by Dr. Henry Friedman in 2003 for his grade 3 anaplastic oligodendroglioma left-temporal brain tumor-delivered however through a rickham catheter into the resection site. I have contacted you for the past few years about this treatment as it was featured in a story with Ed Bradley on "60 Minutes" in 2002 on CBS. I have been trying to bring more awareness about brain tumors by appealing to the media about them and get the word out about these cutting edge treatments that the pioneers at these brain tumor centers have to offer. Brain tumors are the leading cause of solid cancer tumor death and both malignant and benign tumors can induce death. Please let me know if you would commit to an awareness campaign for brain tumors, because EVERY DAY counts, survivability without immediate access to trials and brain tumor centers is less than one year.

[lizzie60362]

Katie, Thank you so much for putting information out there that many people are unaware of. When you or someone you love is diagnosed with a brain tumor it is devastating. My husband was diagnosed with grade IV GBM on 12/22/05. He did well with the gold standard treatment, surgery then radiation and temodar, but had a recurrence 8 months later. We then did our research and are fortunate to live in Connecticut and found several promising clinical trials at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. The first trial showed remarkable results in that the recurring tumor was completely gone after only 3 treatments. As is the case however, with this type of cancer, it has recurred again and we are now in the process of starting a new trial also at Sloan. Katie, we pass by the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health on York Ave. each and every time we go to Sloan and each time we do I remember what an inspiration you have been to those of us who have someone we love battling cancer, especially wives caring for husbands. Please keep the information coming. It is a full time job to research the options and fight this fight, but we will never stop hoping and praying that something will work.

[ajaxrose1]

I think the way this doctor stepped up is very inspirational. I agree, if someone has a very bad diagnosis like this, then get in one of the trials, because if it's terminal there's nothing to lose. If the experimental treatment works, though, then the life of the individual is extended or saved and helps pave the way for others in the same situation down the line. Bravo and God bless Dr. Hassenbusch!

[nkbryant1976]

Thanks Katie for putting this type of cancer out to the public. My husband, which is 30 years old with a wife, a 9-year-old and a 9-week-old, had a 6cm tumor GBM IV on the left side of his head near the part of the brain that controls his motor functions such as speech and his ability to think. He has done Gamma Knife, Cyber Knife, Temodar, and now is doing Chemo by IV. People look at him strange when he does not wear his hat or his bandana but all I can do is smile and hope that one day a lot more people will become more familar and aware of this ugly beast that has got a hold on my husband. I am sure that I an not the only one, but I can't help but ask WHY? These people have lives to live just like everybody else. I had never heard of this tumor before in my life until my husband got it. I have heard of brain tumors but not a horrible name as glioblatoma and at that time, I did not know what it was but it sure scared me. It has been 7 months since my husbands diagnosis and not a day goes by being his wife that I don't think about it and just think how luck we are that he is still here and doing about as good as he can. Nobody knows what it is like until they hear the words, "you have cancer" or a love one is told that they have cancer.

[mbelanger5]

Thank you, Katie, for covering such an important issue. I want to make your audience aware of a very important cancer resource - the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service (CIS). Whether a cancer patient or friend/family member of someone with cancer, CIS information specialists are ready to provide the latest, most accurate information on cancer prevention, screening, treatment, supportive care, genetics, and research in easy-to-understand language. Service is available in English and Spanish on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time. Callers with TTY equipment may call 1-800-332-8615. Recorded information is available after-hours and on weekends. A live chat service, LiveHelp, is also available at www.cancer.gov/help.

[bryny1]

I'm a fab if Dr. Hassenbusch and have been following his case since it was first mentioned in the MD Anderson newsletter.

I struggle with the decision to join a clinical trial to fight my own glioblastoma. While I would welcome an experimental treatment, The clinical trials I've discussed involve randomized conrol groups, patients that get a placebo instead of the drug that they want to try. I want to fight this beast in my brain, but I want to know that I'm fighting armed with something more than a sugar pill.

Perhaps someday I can surmount this vanity and become a guinea pig for the greater good.

[grannypidal]

Good luck to Dr. Hassenbusch, may God bless him. I lost my husband to Glioblastoma (non operable), January 10/07, after only a little over three months. He was only 65 and a loving husband, father and grandfather (full of life). The only syntom was forgetting some words. We tried chemo & radiation, it looked good, we thought he was going to make it, but after 2 months, he went downhill and suffered a lot at the end. After being married 40 years I missed him a lot, but he is not suffering any more. Hope they find a cure. His wife.

[royce131]

My heart and prayers go out to Dr. Hassenbusch and his family.
In Nov. 2005 our beautiful 13 year old daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor. When the results finally came in from the biopsy, our lives were forever changed. We were told she had a Stage IV AA/GBM the prognosis was not good.
She passed away on June 16, 2006 at home, peacefully.
Why did this happen to such a lovely young person? She had so much ahead of her. I never heard of this type of tumor and was stunned when we were first told she had a tumor!! I felt so much guilt and still do.
I hope they find a way to cure this terrible disease.

[rumleyw]

Thank you for your coverage of Dr. Hassenbush's remarkable story. I too was diagnosed with a glioblastoma four years ago. It was inoperable, Stage IV, 6 - 12 months to live. I underwent six weeks of radiation therapy and one year of Temodar therapy. I also took some herbal therapy. I have since had a baby who just turned a year old and the doctor who diagnosed me is amazed that I'm still here. Only a small percentage of patients respond to therapy when diagnosed with this rare type of brain tumor. I still have a small area that shows up on the MRI but there is currently no activity.

[kenstotum]

My best wishes to the Doctor. This type of cancer is not heard of usually until someone you know gets it. My husband was diagnosed 12/26/2005 and has since been through surgey, radiation and chemo. Thanfully like the Doctor he has beaten the odds and is still well with no sign of the tumor returning as of yet. Thank you for informing people about this issue we sometimes feel like breast and prostrate cancers are the only ones people care about yet this one is much more deadly and elusive to a cure.

[gotttajet]

Thanks for covering this story Katie. I know all to well about this cancer as my Mother was diagnosed on 9/16/00 with glioblastoma multiforme brain cancer at 53 years old which is the same age our father passed away and it was a shock to me and my siblings. We were told she might have three months to a year to live if she did nothing and if she did surgery and radiation it might buy her a little bit more time. She did surgery and six weeks of radiation and after several months it came back so they did a second surgery which is rare and then planted chemo wafer chips in her brain and it held it off for a while longer then they did one last direct hit of radiation to the cancer cells and after that we were told there was nothing else we could do and she passed away on 11/20/02. She managed to live 26 months from the time of diagnosis, but had to constantly do something to fight for her life and the last year she could no longer function and was confined to home. I wish Dr. Hassenbusch all the best and anyone else going through this awful cancer.

A big fan,

Tammy~
29 Palms, CA

I wish only the best for Dr. Hassenbusch and I most certainly hope that this new treatment results in a complete halt to the disease.
What upsets me though is it doesn't appear that he met the criteria for inclusion in the trial. Well except for the fact that he was also a doctor at the same hospital where the trial was developed.

My wife was diagnosed last September with high grade GBM, went through surgery, debilitating radiation therapy and is now on Timodar chemo.

She is in relatively good shape, though she will never be an RN again, but based on the INCLUSION CRITERIA she is not eligible for any of these phase 2 trials since her glioma is not recurrent.

But we KNOW that it WILL be back.
We KNOW that before an every 3 month MRI discovers that it is back and the doctors can react to it, it will do more irreversable damage to her brain.
We THINK that these treatments COULD prevent this, as they APPEAR to be doing with Dr. Hassenbusch.
But we STILL don't have any way to get into the trial or get this treatment.

There is NOTHING so aggravating as knowing that red tape and/or lack of connections are what stand between you and a possible cure for you loved one.