Carol's Crew: Crusade for a Cure

Carol Ranton is the loving mother of 3 children, devoted wife of 33 years, and a caring sister to 5 siblings.

Carol was diagnosed with her first brain tumor in January of 2012. She received brain surgery at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas on March 6, 2012. This first brain tumor was diagnosed as an Oligodendroglioma Grade 2 malignant tumor. After the surgery healing process was completed, Carol was then administered 6 months of chemotherapy until October 2012. Her brain was monitored using MRIs over the next 20 months with no evidence of recurrence. On June 9, 2014 Carol had a very bad seizure while at home. An MRI a few days later showed 2 new tumors in the initial area of the brain as the first tumor was located. These tumors were successfully removed at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center on July 21, 2014. However, the tumors were diagnosed as a more aggressive form of malignant brain cancer known as Anaplastic Glioma Grade 3. Following this 2nd brain surgery, Carol received 30 rounds of radiation at M.D. Anderson followed by 6 months of a 3 chemotherapy drug combination treatment. 3 months into this treatment plan, an MRI revealed 2 new tumors on the brain but in 2 completely different locations. Carol received her 3rd brain surgery to remove the larger tumor on the front right lobe of the brain. This tumor was successfully removed on April 2, 2015. At present, the remaining tumor is being monitored for growth. The preliminary pathology report suggests that this tumor is the same as the 2nd tumors, Anaplastic Glioma Grade 3. Final results of this report are still being studied and pending. In the weeks to come, a team of Oncologists at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center will develop a plan of action to continue to treat this horrible disease.