70-Year-Old Soccer Star Scores Big Against Glioblastoma

Ann Rogers is in a league of her own: resilient and optimistic, the 70-year-old soccer star and Ivy Brain Tumor Center patient can find silver linings in nearly every cloud. However, the past six years— punctuated by the diagnosis of an aggressive brain tumor—have challenged Ann in staggering ways.

First, Ann was brought to her knees by the loss of her daughter, Leilani, who passed away during pregnancy complications—although she cherished the birth of her grandson and delights in the joy he brings to their family. Then, in 2020, six months into her retirement, Ann received another blow: a breast cancer diagnosis; the same disease that took her sister at 44. On the bright side, she surmised, her breast cancer only required a lumpectomy and radiation. As Ann reimagined retirement, she focused on what lit her up: Family first, followed by an indistinguishable passion for competitive soccer. Like family, the sport and her teammates have helped Ann bounce back from every hardship and heartbreak, stronger and more determined than before.

As Ann reimagined retirement, she focused on what lit her up: Family first, followed by an indistinguishable passion for competitive soccer. Like family, the sport and her teammates have helped Ann bounce back from every hardship and heartbreak, stronger and more determined than before.

A Diagnosis from Left Field

Ann would have to draw on these sources of strength and support once again after hearing the word “glioblastoma” for the very first time. With a median survival rate for adults of 12-16 months, glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant cancers.

It was a Sunday evening in August 2021. Ann had just wrapped up a soccer tournament and was finishing dinner with her family when, “She started displaying significant expressive aphasia, and just wasn’t making any sense,” her son, Lyle, recalled. “So, my sister rushed her to the ER. She thought it might be a stroke.”

Following CT and MRI scans, a mass was identified: A golf-ball sized glioblastoma tumor on Ann’s left temporal lobe. “I never had headaches or any other symptoms, plus I was in great shape and healthy,” she says. “I refused to believe it. I felt fine and said, ‘We’ll just battle this.’ I’m a warrior, and I refuse to lose.”

Sizing Up Her Next Opponent

Ann traveled to the Ivy Center from Colorado and underwent surgery to remove her tumor, followed by radiation and chemotherapy, the typical course for treating glioblastoma. She also followed the regimen of MRIs twice a month to detect tumor recurrence.

Knowing it wasn’t a matter of “if” but “when” the tumor would return, Ann chose to continue playing soccer and enjoying time with family.

“I just decided that whether it’s a month or 10 years, I’m going to make it the best that I can,” says Ann.

Two years flew by, and it seemed Ann had defied the odds. Then, just shy of her three-year milestone, her regular MRI sounded the siren: The tumor was back.

Reinvigorated by Clinical Trials

Ann’s son, Lyle, was prepared for this moment. He had extensively researched the Phase 0 clinical trials program led by neurosurgeon Dr. Nader Sanai at the Ivy Brain Tumor Center at Barrow. “I knew when Mom’s tumor returned, we wanted her surgeon to be Dr. Sanai,” he says.

Ann qualified for and enrolled in a Phase 0/1b clinical trial of AZD1390. The Phase 0 portion of the study confirmed the first-in class AstraZeneca drug she took days before surgery penetrated the tumor successfully. She graduated to an expansion phase of the trial, meaning she can continue taking the drug.

Ann also is participating in the Ivy Center’s liquid biopsy program—the first of its kind worldwide— which involves analyzing her cerebrospinal fluid for tumor-specific genetic material.

“Monthly CSF draws through a subcutaneous port in the scalp lets us track tumor biology changes, even when the scans show nothing,” says Dr. Sanai. “Ann’s participation in the program can potentially benefit herself and many glioblastoma patients in the future.”

Steeped In Gratitude

The last couple of months have been some of Ann’s biggest and best: Already a grandmother of six, she gleefully welcomed her first great-grandson into her arms. She also celebrated turning 70 with a family ziplining adventure. Ann is grateful for the care she’s received from her team, including Dr. Sanai, radiation oncologist Dr. Igor Barani, neuro-oncologist Dr. Kelly Braun, and the neuroscience nurses at Barrow.

“Everyone has been wonderful, very kind, very knowledgeable,” she says through tears. “I’m so thankful and respect them so much. They’re very passionate about doing everything they can. And I fully intend to be successful for them because we all want to win, right?”