"Getting my diagnosis was an interesting journey," Becca Valle tells PEOPLE
Courtesy of Becca Valle
NEED TO KNOW
- A woman, who thought she was suffering from “chronic migraines,” ended up getting diagnosed with a more serious concern: glioblastoma
- “Getting my diagnosis was an interesting journey,” Becca Valle tells PEOPLE
- Glioblastoma is a type of brain cancer
A woman thought she was suffering from "chronic migraines." After seeking help, she soon learned that it was something much more serious.
Back in 2021, Becca Valle tells PEOPLE she "was consistently waking up with headaches that grew in pain over the course of the day."
After consulting her sister-in-law, a migraine sufferer, for advice, Valle, then 37, went to her general practitioner, "Who thought it could be sinuses and prescribed me medication."
"[But] the medication didn’t work, and the headaches persisted," she continues.
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Courtesy of Becca Valle
Valle attempted to find ways to control her pain naturally — like taking "morning walks on the beach, hoping the fresh air would lessen my headaches" — but when one got to "its ultimate worst," she knew she needed to do something more.
"By afternoon, I had called my boyfriend at the time, asking if he could take me to the hospital when he got home from work. At this point, I was throwing up from the pain, and when he came home, I was in bed and unable to sit up on my own or hold the Gatorade he had brought me," Valle recalls.
Courtesy of Becca Valle
"Emails I had sent to my work letting them know I was signing off for the day were gibberish, so much so that a close colleague escalated to my boss, as it frightened him," she continues. "By this point, I was in the ER and writing texts with similar gibberish to my partner, since he was not allowed in with me due to COVID."
Valle underwent a scan, which showed blood in her brain, according to CBS News. Doctors then performed an exploratory craniotomy, which removed a portion of Valle's skull to examine her brain, and the surgery revealed a brain tumor. It was eventually removed in a second craniotomy, and testing later found it was glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer.
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"Getting my diagnosis was an interesting journey," Valle — who was supported heavily by her partner, Craig, and her parents and friends — tells PEOPLE, adding, "My type A personality clicked in, and I called doctors around the U.S. to do diligence on every possible trial and treatment that exists, confirm my diagnosis and to seek additional medical advice. This gave me a better feeling of control and resolve that I could navigate this challenge."
After meeting with her radiologist and oncologist, Valle says she was "presented with multiple trial options," but the ones she could partake in were "dependent on a specific gene." She eventually came across an ultrasound trial run by Dr. Graeme Woodworth, the Chief of Neurosurgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC).
Courtesy of Becca Valle
"Our clinical trials are aimed to advance the delivery of drug therapies to the brain regions where glioblastoma occurs, using focused ultrasound to carefully and temporarily open the blood-brain barrier to allow therapies to reach the tumor cells," Dr. Woodworth tells PEOPLE. "Becca’s case is an example of a life, a very remarkable life, improved with this approach."
Valle was one of 34 participants in the trial, which involved between three and six focused ultrasound treatments over six months, according to CBS News. The treatment method and device are currently under review with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the outlet reported.
Courtesy of Becca Valle
Now, Valle, 42, says she is "living life fully." She adds, "When diagnosed, I found that I became more compassionate and softer, recognizing that you never know what someone is going through."
"When diagnosed with glioblastoma, doctors never use the word 'remission.' This cancer works to regenerate itself, and statistics show that it’s likely to recur. Yes, I’m writing about this, but I choose not to think about cancer returning. I call myself cancer-free and continue to embrace my favorite things in life: time with friends and family, traveling and staying curious about new cultures and experiences, staying committed to my active lifestyle of hiking, skiing, boxing and more," the marketing executive continues. "I see a future filled with these same joys."
"It has been well over 4 years since she rang the 'cancer is clear' bell at UMMC," Dr. Woodworth says. "It has been an honor to care for Becca and to partner with her in our journey to bring new, effective tools and therapies to glioblastoma patients. My hope is that this study marks the beginning of a new era in brain drug delivery, for glioblastoma patients and others with vexing, difficult-to-treat neurological conditions."
As for her advice to others going through — or who might go through — a similar situation, Valle tells PEOPLE, "As much as you can, take control of your journey. Talk to doctors and others who have gone through the same. Know what studies and trials exist. … Support groups saved me. Cancer is lonely, and while people you love will show up for you, they don’t always know what to say. Support groups offered me comfort in being able to talk openly and honestly about emotions in ways that didn’t come as easily with those who didn’t have a shared experience."
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