ForeverPPL | Thomas Freeman

John's Updates

A space for updates on John's brain tumor surgery and post-op treatment.

One-Month Update - Moving Forward

I wanted to give everyone a quick update. I’m still recovering and feeling well. I had my first meeting with my oncologist, Dr. Haughton on Wednesday. We have the full biopsy results back that confirm the tumor is a grade 2 astrocytoma, IDH mutant. So what does that mean? This type of tumor is very slow-growing, though it is prone to reoccurrence. Fortunately, my surgeons, Dr. Kanos & Dr. Hodge, were able to remove around 80% of the tumor—a great result that puts me in a favorable position to treat it and delay further growth.

I have a follow-up appointment in three weeks to finalize my treatment plan, though I think I know the avenue that I will be taking. There is a new drug available to me that was approved literally on the day of my first meeting with Dr. Haughton. This IDH inhibitor drug has proven effective at treating cases just like mine. The timing couldn’t be more fortunate.

This is something that I’ll have to monitor and manage. However, my oncologist expects that I will be able to return to my normal quality of life—That’s already been the case!

I want to thank my friends, family, and community for their love and support. I will continue to update the list below, but I want to thank you all by name:

  • Beth & Brendan Price

  • Viviane Till

  • Scott & Teresa Cleveland

  • Ray & Laura Ramage

  • Hannah & Mel Dias

  • Yvette Brown

  • Louisa & Gill McIlwaine

  • Gayle Blouin

  • Cheryl Taylor

  • June McKnight

  • The ReWa Team

  • Cindy Dorn

  • Bret & Janet Goodwin

  • Dana Denny

  • John & Julie Maloy

  • Linda & John Tapp

  • Jeanine Halva-Neubauer

  • Katie King

  • Gail Fortner

  • David & Cindy Freeman

  • Sandy & Jeff Gold

  • Tracy & Charles Hardaway

  • Jeanne Palanza

  • Virginie & Brad Helmus

  • Remy Stuckey

  • Caroline Rudisill & the Rudisill family

  • Sandy Gold

  • Lori Erickson

  • Paula Streveler

  • David & Vickie Shallcross

  • Penny Bradbury

  • Jan Holder

  • Joyce Ann & John Millard

  • Diane & Cory Riedl

  • Lynn Courchaine

  • Glyn Sandzén

  • Gena Haskell

  • Greta & Brown Parkinson

  • Ingram Carpenter

  • Karen Hyatt

  • Pat Horton

  • Kelly Bridwell

  • Laurie Rogers

  • Lori Erickson

  • Thomas Freeman & Kayla Brown

  • Marc & Monica Del Vecchio

  • Cleva & Ann Hutchinson

  • Michelle & Bill Casey

  • Nancy & Fredy Revilla

  • Robin & Marshall Adams

  • Sandy Gravlee

  • Sara Oglesbee

  • Cory Granner

  • Robin & Phil Tucker

  • Brad Steele 

  • Lynn Freeman & Robert Herzog

  • Hai Dan Fan & Caleb Cushing

  • Kate Ellesworth, Martin, Emily, & Olivia Shorter

  • Chiaren Cushing & Ole Gron

  • Beth & Tony Martin

  • Bill Duxbury

  • Ed Perrin

  • Mark Wooten

  • Chris & Julian Palanza

  • Logan & Megan Krieger

  • Alicia Marshall

  • Michael Vetter

  • Jay Thomason

  • David Allen

  • Scott Snyder & Nicole Marie

  • Matt Rutledge

  • Scott Gawlik

  • The Hannons

  • Dale Baker

  • Dirk Hedlund

  • Stephen Noble

  • Kevin McAlpine

  • Meredith Davis

  • Alex McWhirter

  • Luke Brannem

  • Matt & Rebecca Carrington

I’ll update everybody again after my next appointment in three weeks.

-John

Thomas Freeman