Valerie Harper’s Brain Cancer ‘Close to Remission,’ Doctor Tells NBC
The actress’ neuro-oncologist reveals on “Today” that she has hope and a bit more time in her battle with a rare, terminal disease.
Valerie Harper‘s rare, terminal brain cancer may be close to remission, the actress’ neuro-oncologist revealed exclusively on NBC’s Today show Thursday morning.
A recent MRI showed that the Rhoda actress’ leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is “pretty close to remission,” Dr. Jeremy Rudnick told Meredith Vieira in a sneak peek at an upcoming special about Harper’s battle.
STORY: Valerie Harper Discusses Her Brain Cancer Diagnosis on ‘Today’
That development “defies the odds,” Rudnick said, but he cautioned that her condition could change at any time.
“They develop resistance to the therapy,” Rudnick said of patients undergoing treatments similar to Harper’s. “And it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.”
So what this news really means is that Harper has more time, during which, hopefully, a more effective treatment will come along.
Harper revealed her terminal brain cancer diagnosis in March. Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is a disease in which cancer cells spread into the membrane surrounding the brain. Her physicians gave her three to six months to live when she was diagnosed Jan. 15.
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