UCLA Journal of Radiation Oncology_SS 2025_FOR PRINT - Flipbook - Page 17
UCLA RADIATION ONCOLOGY JOURNAL
“Bonnie is not just surviving,” said David. “She’s
thriving.” ☐
McCann gave Bonnie and David the green light to
go home to Hawaii for Thanksgiving, something they
never thought would happen.
Contributed by: Denise Heady
They returned to UCLA at the end of February for a
three-month follow-up with the team. The news was
better than they could have hoped.
Denise Heady is a science communications and media relations manager at
UCLA Health. She covers the clinical cancer program along with basic and
clinical translational research for the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive
Cancer Center.
Bonnie’s latest scans showed remarkable progress.
Her lesions had either shrunk signi昀椀cantly or nearly
disappeared, and all of her organs were clear. A brain
MRI revealed a 70%–80% reduction in lesions, with
the remaining ones continuing to shrink. A subsequent
three-month scan showed no lesions. Additionally,
her tumor markers, which were dangerously high in
November 2021, had returned to normal levels.
What was originally thought to be a prognosis of just
weeks was now uncertain.
“We were told Bonnie was doing spectacular and this
was the best response to treatment possible,” said
David.
This improvement underscored the importance of a
skilled, collaborative approach.
"Having the breadth of experience from
multidisciplinary teams allows us to 昀椀nd creative
answers or 昀椀nd hope where others might not be able
to see,” said Dr. Kim. “With tumors that respond well
to targeted therapies, the prognosis is not as grim as it
once seemed.”
Now, more than three years after her diagnosis,
Bonnie remains progression free, with no evidence
of disease. She continues to receive infusions and is
monitored by her team for any signs of recurrence.
"It was a blessing from God to lead us to this
incredible UCLA team,” said Bonnie. “They saved my
life."
Bonnie now has more time to spend with her family
and friends, watch her grandchildren grow up, and
reach new milestones.
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