Survived 12 years from Brain Cancer in the Pineal Gland with ECCT

At only 10 years old, Rafi was diagnosed with a tumor in the pineal gland, a central brain structure critical in producing and regulating the body's endocrine hormones. A biopsy confirmed it was a high-grade malignant tumor—pineal parenchymal tumor of intermediate differentiation (PPTID). High-grade pineal tumors often present as gliomas, such as high-grade glioma (HGG) types like astrocytoma (WHO grade 3) or glioblastoma (grade 4). MRI scans revealed a 3 cm tumor mass at the center of the pineal gland, obstructing the flow of cerebrospinal fluid through the fourth ventricle and causing hydrocephalus. At the time, Rafi was hospitalized with severe headaches and was unable to stand or walk.

The pineal gland plays a key role in producing melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and influences reproductive function, especially during puberty. It is also referred to as the “third eye” due to its light-sensitive properties, receiving signals from the retina. Philosopher René Descartes even referred to the pineal gland as the “principal seat of the soul,” believing that our thoughts and emotions originate from this central point in the brain due to its unique location and mobility.

Cancer in the pineal gland can cause various symptoms due to its location near critical brain structures. These include persistent headaches (especially in the morning or with sudden movements), visual disturbances (blurry vision, double vision, or partial vision loss), eye movement disorders, nausea and vomiting, balance and coordination issues, seizures, and hydrocephalus. Tumors can also affect cognition and behavior, leading to mood changes and anxiety—symptoms often linked to melatonin deficiency, which can disrupt sleep and emotional regulation.

The prognosis for high-grade gliomas in the pineal region, such as glioblastoma, is generally poor. These tumors are highly aggressive and challenging to treat. Several factors affect prognosis, including the patient's age, general health, tumor severity and location, and how well the tumor responds to treatment.

Standard treatment for high-grade gliomas in the pineal gland typically involves a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, in Rafi’s case, surgery was not feasible due to the tumor’s size and location, pressing on the brainstem and vital brain centers like the thalamus. Without surgical removal, high-grade gliomas have a very high recurrence rate. Even with surgery and follow-up treatments like radiation or chemotherapy, such aggressive tumors tend to return rapidly, requiring close monitoring and integrated medical care.

Given that surgery was not an option, radiation therapy was the only available medical intervention at the time, though it carried a high risk of rapid and aggressive recurrence. Rafi’s parents therefore sought an additional, long-term protective approach and decided to combine ECCT with radiation therapy. ECCT became a crucial part of his treatment plan, particularly for a cancer type prone to regrowth and spreading.

Rafi started using ECCT with a helmet covering his head—at the end of September 2013. He wore it during his radiation treatment, which was administered 30 times over roughly a month at the hospital. Prior to radiation, he underwent surgery to insert a VP shunt to drain the accumulated brain fluid. His response to ECCT was swift. He experienced detox-like effects such as sweating, foul-smelling bowel movements and gas, and excessive urination. Along with these detox reactions, his clinical symptoms improved—his headaches diminished, and his motor and visual impairments improved. Within a month of starting ECCT, he was already well for outing with his parent.

MRI results after six months of ECCT treatment showed that Rafi’s 3 cm tumor had significantly reduced and was no longer a concern. There may have been some residual scar tissue, but nothing clinically significant, a common finding in tumors that have dissolved through ECCT.

Rafi continued using ECCT afterward as a preventive measure to avoid recurrence and metastasis. His general condition returned to normal, and his physical growth was on track. After missing several months of school during treatment, he resumed classes, completed elementary school, continued through middle and high school, and is now 22 years old, actively pursuing his university studies.