From the moment she was diagnosed and as proposed by the Oncology Service of the Sant Joan de Deu Hospital of Barcelona, Alicia followed an unconventional and very new treatment with the hopes of modifying the course of her disease.

The following is a brief description of the treatment Alicia received within the DIPG treatment programme of the Sant Joan de Deu Hospital of Barcelona, including additional alternative therapies and complements that were administered in conjunction with the hospital's treatment. If you would like more detailed information, please contact us (see Contact Us section).

We believe it is very important to highlight that Alicia enjoyed good quality of life during most of her treatment. Physically she was always herself. She didn't experience significant weight changes, she did not have infections, she did not lose her hair and she continued to participate in the normal activities of her age group despite the physical limitations that gradually and slowly appeared as the tumour progressed. The most notable side effect was frequent vomiting during the first few weeks of cisplatin administration.

Diagnosis date: August, 21 2006

Surgery for Porth-a-Cath: August 23

Start Treatment: August 24

A) MEDICAL TREATMENT

A.1) First cycle of chemotherapy (2 month):
CISPLATIN + IRINOTECAN (CPT-11): Weekly administrated
AVASTIN: Every other week

A.2) Radiotherapy (IMRT) : From October 31 to December 06.
Daily from Monday to Friday, resting on weekends (31 days in total, equivalent to total radiation dose of 59,6 Gy)
During radiotherapy, also takes Temozolamide (daily dose).

A.3) Second cycle of chemotherapy: Repetition of the first cycle, finishing on March 29 2007

A.4) From May 15, Theraloc (Nimotuzumab) and Avastin every other week. Irinotecan is added again from June 12.

A.5) On July 5, MRI confirms tumor progression and we decided to take Cisplatin and Temozolomide again (along with Theraloc and Avastin)
From then on, the treatment was being adjusted and sometimes stopped due to drug toxicity and finally to tumor progression.
In this phase Etoposide is also given without any effect.

A.6) After three admissions in the hospital due to head ache (intracranial pressure increase), it is needed another surgery to put a shunt on October 3, in order to reduce this pressure.

Despite of all the efforts from family and doctors, Alicia's condition deteriorates quickly till she passes away at home on November 21 2007.

B) HOMEOPATHICS TREATMENTS

Lipoic Acid

Ozonotherapy

Ruta 6

DHA (Omega 3)

DCA (Dicloroacetate)

Poly-MVA