In a remarkable turn of events, Ben Troutman, who was diagnosed with a glioblastoma tumor in October 2022 at the age of 40, has shown no signs of the aggressive cancer two years and eight months after beginning treatment. Glioblastoma tumors typically have a grim prognosis, with patients usually succumbing within 12 to 18 months.
Troutman, now 43, has undergone quarterly examinations as his diagnosis, and all recent tests have come back clear, indicating the absence of any tumor presence. This outcome is particularly noteworthy as it occurred without the scheduled follow-up surgery intended to remove the tumor,which had initially appeared clearly in diagnostic tests.
Promising Results
“It is indeed unusual for examination results to appear clear with an aromatic tumor, especially as he was not under the follow-up surgery that was scheduled to be performed to remove the tumor, which was initially clear in the tests. This has succeeded so far, which we are happy to see.”
Troutman’s wife, Emily, shared the profound impact of his diagnosis, stating, “The diagnosis of his condition was the most painful experience. We were wrestling with the fact that Ben had moved from an outwardly healthy condition to a life not exceeding a few months.” The couple married two months after Troutman began immunotherapy, and their daughter, Maple, was born in April.
Troutman continues to receive the current standard treatment regimen of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, with his ongoing quarterly examinations consistently yielding clear results.
A key aspect of the experimental treatment involves administering a drug to bolster the patient’s immune system before any other interventions, provided the patient is healthy enough to tolerate immunotherapy.