Becca Valle, 41, thought her headaches were just migraines—until a sudden, unbearable pain revealed something far more serious. In September 2021, Valle began waking up with intense headaches that left her nauseous and bedridden. Her doctor initially suspected sinus issues, but when the pain became overwhelming, Valle rushed to the hospital. A scan revealed blood in her brain, and doctors performed an emergency craniotomy.
The surgery uncovered a brain tumor, later confirmed as glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer. Typically, glioblastoma is nearly impossible to fully remove surgically, and only around 10% of patients survive beyond five years. Valle faced grim odds, but she chose to fight.
Valle enrolled in a groundbreaking clinical trial testing a new method to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier—a protective layer of cells that normally blocks medications from reaching the brain. Using focused ultrasound waves interacting with harmless microbubbles, the trial allowed chemotherapy drugs to reach the tumor more effectively. Over six months, Valle underwent three to six ultrasound sessions while receiving chemotherapy, monitored closely with frequent MRIs.
Dr. Graeme Woodworth, chief of neurosurgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center and the trial’s lead researcher, said early results were promising. Up to 40% of participants were alive months later, far exceeding expectations for this aggressive cancer. Comparing trial participants with a matched control group, the team observed a clear survival advantage for those receiving the ultrasound-assisted treatment.
“This is an important step in the right direction,” said Dr. Patrick Wen, neuro-oncologist at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, praising the trial’s results. While the treatment is not yet widely available, ongoing studies aim to confirm its effectiveness and potentially expand its use for other brain cancers.
Today, four years after her diagnosis, Valle shows no evidence of disease. She describes herself as “truly an outlier” and is living life to the fullest, hiking in Italy and planning a European ski trip. Valle only needs MRIs twice a year and focuses on the present rather than statistics.
“I don’t think about the cancer. It doesn’t serve me to worry about if it returns,” Valle said. “I’ve always been a ‘live life to the fullest’ person. Why change that now?”
Valle’s story is a rare triumph against one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer, highlighting the potential of innovative treatments and the human will to survive. Her journey inspires patients, researchers, and families, showing that breakthroughs in medicine can turn devastating diagnoses into stories of hope.
