Treatment for Teen With Cancer Hits Setback

Glenn Lightner has been dealing with setbacks in his battle with brain cancer since 2007.

The most recent one, however, has slowed his battle and forced his family to alter treatment plans.

Just a few weeks after an MRI showed the 13-year-old boy’s brain was tumor free for the first time in three years, six new spots on his brain appeared, all in new locations.

The teen headed back to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital where he had all six tumors gamanized by Dr. Shabbar Danish, who had previously performed laser surgeries on Glenn Lightner’s brain.

The non-invasive procedure went as planned, but for the first time, Lightner was heavily affected by it, according to his father, Larry Lightner.

When the family returned home that night, Glenn went into convulsive seizures, Larry Lightner said, and needed immediate medical attention.

“We know (seizures) can happen at any time because of all the treatments,” Larry Lightner said, adding that his son has been on anti-seizure medication for years. “But he’s never had convulsions or been impacted like this.”

Lightner was immediately flown to Robert Wood Johnson, but endured two more seizures during the transport, Larry Lightner said.

Once doctors had Glenn Lightner under control, he remained in the hospital for three days as he battled nausea. One of the tumors was located on his cerebellum, which was likely the cause for his imbalance, leading to the sickness, his father said.

Next Steps

Glenn Lightner was scheduled to fly to the University of Frankfurt in Germany for additional treatments last Friday, but has not been medically cleared because of the seizures.

“Obviously we wouldn’t want (the seizures) to happen while we’re somewhere over the Atlantic,” Larry Lightner said. “So we’re going to wait until he’s ready to endure a lengthy flight.”

Once Glenn Lightner heads back to the University of Frankfurt, he’ll likely undergo chemo profusion, a treatment that will send chemotherapy treatments directly to his brain, Larry Lightner said.

Once the treatments are complete, Lightner will again undergo an MRI to see if any tumors have been eradicated.

Until then, however, the Lightner family will continue to monitor their oldest son’s health, and hope the setbacks end.

To see full coverage of Glenn Lightner's journey, go here.