He did three more trials of the temozolomide. At Thanksgiving of 1996 he had a second craniotomy to remove a second 5 cm tumor and to have a port installed into the tumor bed. Just before Christmas he began the six weeks of radiation. In March of 1997 his scans were still clear. Henry then suggested that david have the monoclonal antibody procedure done, for which the port had been installed.
Monoclonal antibodies are mouse antibodies which are piggy-backed by radioactivity.
The solution is injected through the port straight to the tumor cavity. It sounds spooky, but it was painless. Then in August a slice began to enhance on the scans. He began another chemo called CCNU which was taken by pill in one dose per six weeks. The CCNU did cause David's platelet count to drop considerably, but neither as low as the monoclonal antibodies did, nor enough to require a transfusion.