When you think of ultrasounds, you probably think of sonograms, pregnancy, mammograms, and gynecology. At least I do!

I never would have associated ultrasound with brain cancer-until now. Our guest today, Dr. Vijay Agarwal, CEO of Alpheus Medical, has developed an investigational therapy that pairs a tumor-accumulating drug with low-intensity ultrasound to achieve localized activation inside the brain — an approach sometimes referred to as sonodynamic therapy (SDT).

After the drug has accumulated, the Alpheus LIDU® system delivers low-intensity, diffuse ultrasound across the affected brain hemisphere.

Dr. Agarwal discusses with me why this technology pairs so well with treating brain cancer. He stresses the importance for more innovative ways to treat brain cancer, and why funding is so crucial to work of many companies like his. More importantly, he sheds light on his passion for this work and his hope for the future.

Watch the video of this episode on our YouTube channel.

Premier sponsors:

GammaTile Therapy

Curtana Pharmaceuticals

That Brainy Blonde! That's right, our guest today is That Brainy Blonde-Rebecca Devine.

How else would we kick off season 6 and brain cancer awareness month than with an eight year survivor of glioblastoma.

Rebecca's story is inspiring in so many ways, not least of which, her determination to find innovative ways to keep this cancer at bay. Rebecca's story is one of hope and resilience.

We have an intimate discussion around the clinical trial she did that has gotten her to where she is today. We also discuss her daily habits and how she views life from this different lens.

If you are looking for clinical trials our resource information-visit thegameongliopodcast.com

If you would like to work with us-visit writelifemediallc.com

Our premier sponsors for this season include:

GammaTile Therapy

Curtana Pharmaceuticals

Episode sponsors:

Alpheus Medical

Tactical Therapeutics

Highmark BCBS of WNY

It's fitting to end our 5th season with this interview. Every once in a while you come across a story that reminds you miracles do happen in this world. In covering such hard stories, it's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture.

I've learned from my own experience, and through others stories, that when we see or are faced with death up close, it has the tendency to shine a light on what we truly need to put our energy into. It brings the present moment into focus, and all other problems or future worries fade away. But, it does something else too- it reminds us we don't have control over everything that happens in our life, no matter how much we might want to believe we do.

That's what today's story is about. From aspiring high school baseball player with a potential for a future professional career, to brain cancer patient fighting for his life. Bryce Newman never expected his life would be put into hyper-focus, with only one single motivation-to live. By all accounts, fighting medulablastoma, one of the most aggressive pediatric brain cancers there is, takes the life within a couple of years. Not Bryce, not this patient, not this life. Nearly eight years on, and working towards his Master's degree in sports management, Bryce says, "The minute I was diagnosed, I put it in God's hands." He says he was calm, he trusted God. But he wasn't the only one. His entire school did too.

And from that one act, his life was seemingly spared. The movie "Miracle at Manchester", starring Eddie McClintock was then made Bryce found renewed purpose, founding Miracle Children's Foundation.

Listen now or watch on YouTube.

Season Sponsors:

GammaTile (gammatile.com)

Imvax (imvax.com)

episode sponsors:

Highmark BCBS of WNY

Curtana Pharmaceuticals

Cypris Therapeutics