Man Credits “Modern Miracle” for Cancer Recovery

Texas Health Plano says technology cuts down on surgery, recovery time

Over the past six months, a Carrollton man has undergone the fight of his life against brain cancer and credits a new style of brain surgery for helping him get back on his feet.

Todd Doane says what he thought was sinus pressure landed him at the Texas Plano Emergency Room the day before Thanksgiving last year.

“It wasn’t like any other headache I’ve had before,” Doane said. “I knew something was wrong.”

After going through a CAT scan, Doane received his diagnosis: brain cancer.

“It’s called Glioblastoma, and mine is a grade 4,” he said.

Glioblastoma is a type of tumor that is among the most aggressive, according to Doane’s surgeon, Dr. Rob Dickerman at Texas Health Plano.

The tumor in Doane’s brain was about the size of a lemon, approximately 3 centimeters by 3.5 centimeters large.

Doane was rushed into surgery and credits the Brain Lab Curve technology for his current recovery.

Texas Health Plano says it was the first hospital in North Texas to add the procedure that allows for image-guided surgery. The technology takes a picture of the patient’s brain, and then gives the surgeon GPS-precise directions to remove the tumor.

In Doane’s case, surgeons took out 98 percent of the mass.

The hospital adds that the technology can cut surgery time nearly in a half and provides for quicker recovery.

“I was up, walking around a couple hours after the operation – which is pretty amazing,” Doane said. “Luckily, with this surgery, I was basically given another opportunity.”

Since November, Doane has finished radiation and continues chemotherapy.

He says the procedure is a “modern miracle.” 

Doane says he’s changed his lifestyle to focus on health and family, instead of things he feels are less important.

“When you’re hit with the news that you have cancer, you have basically two choices. Be a victim, or be proactive. I’m not afraid of anything, and so I choose to live and choose to fight – and that does inspire people,” he said.

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