PhD in Biomechanics. Patient advocate. Diehard Leafs fan. Brain cancer survivor. Trying to help improve social inequities in health care.

Joined March 2013
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Replying to @BTSMchat
T2. Asking questions is tremendously difficult until you actually know the diagnosis and have a bit of a background. That is why I made this resource for newly diagnosed individuals. #BTSM #NewlyDiagnosedNovember
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Please VOTE for Monty! If he wins he's pledge to make a donation to brain cancer research to try to keep me (the source of treats) alive a little longer #btsm #americasfavoritepet @braincancercan
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*Pledged*
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americasfavpet.com/2026/mont… Please Vote for Monty!

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It is with a heavy heart that we share news of the passing of philosopher, writer, patient advocate, and NBTS board member Adam Hayden. Read about Adam’s life, legacy, and enduring impact on the brain tumor community: braintumor.org/news/remember…
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Love this community. It's been amazing meeting so many of you IRL! Been an honour and a pleasure contributing.
7 Dec 2025
Friends, it's been a pleasure! We are incredibly grateful for what we have started the community we have created, but it's time to say goodbye to our regularly scheduled chats. Please read our letter below. With love and gratitude, the #BTSM chat co-founder and organizer team
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Emily McIntosh retweeted
Most days, I don’t feel particularly courageous - but I do know I’m brave, because my nephew William told me so. The day I was discharged after my first surgery, I stopped by to visit my sister’s family. After a very loud, “Ewww, Emmy, look at your HEAD!” William asked if I had been brave at the hospital. I had chosen to undergo brain surgery even after being told it might not make a difference either way, so I figured I was either brave or maybe stupid, but I responded to his question with a question: “What do you think is brave?” I’ll never forget his response because it made my heart melt a little as he talked about his younger brother. “James went to the doctor and he got a needle and didn’t even cry. He is SO brave!” That was when I realized I must be brave too, after all, I had eight needles during my hospital stay and didn’t cry once. That made me, by William’s calculation, eight times braver than a two-year-old. Since that first surgery, I’ve had another one. I’ve completed many weeks of chemotherapy, three rounds of radiation, and several intravenous infusions, still without crying. But more importantly, instead of avoiding the nuances of the horrific disease I’ve been diagnosed with and living through, I’ve chosen to use my skill set and lived experience to advocate for other patients and to contribute to research and patient-centred care. .......... Emily McIntosh, PhD in Biomechanics, BCC Engagement Ambassador, dedicated patient advocate, remarkable brain cancer survivor and thriver, and the second recipient of the Douglas MacRae Award of Courage. #12DaysOfCourage #EmilyMcIntosh @mcintose
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Unreal! He has been brilliant! Doesn't need to be qualified by his age and lack of experience. He stacks up against any other WS pitcher before him! #WANTITALL #GoJays #FinishThem
30 Oct 2025
There have been 2 games in MLB postseason history where a pitcher: struck out 10 total batters struck out 5 consecutive batters struck out 50% of batters faced allowed fewer than 5 baserunners (H/BB/HBP) earned the win Both were by the same 22-year-old rookie: Trey Yesavage.
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Emily McIntosh retweeted
WE'RE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES!!!!! #WANTITALL
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Emily McIntosh retweeted
🚨The OPAL Phase 1 clinical trial for CT-179 has officially launched in Australia! 🇦🇺 This innovative oral drug is targeting glioblastoma (#GBM), a tough and aggressive brain tumor that affects thousands worldwide. 🧠💥 CT-179 works by blocking OLIG2, a key protein in GBM cancer stem cells that helps tumors grow, spread, and resist treatments. 🧬 By disrupting how OLIG2 pairs up (homodimerization), it changes the cells' behavior—pushing them to mature, die off, or stop multiplying. Preclinical tests show it crosses the blood-brain barrier and boosts effects when combined with radiation or chemo! ⚗️🔬 Developed by Curtana Pharmaceuticals starting around 2016, CT-179 has come a long way: from lab discoveries and animal studies showing tumor shrinkage, to @US_FDA orphan drug status for GBM in 2017, more funding in 2020, and now entering human trials in 2025. 📈 It's a first-in-class therapy aimed at those sneaky stem cells that cause the cancer to come back. 🌟 Remember, this is Phase 1—focused on safety, finding the right dose, and how the body handles it. ⚠️ It's early days, so no guarantees on effectiveness yet. Side effects could occur, and it's for select patients only. If you're interested, talk to your doctor or check ABCARA/COGNO for details. Let's root for breakthroughs! 💪 #Glioblastoma #BrainCancerResearch #CT179 #OPALTrial @WeTrialshub @oncodaily
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Emily McIntosh retweeted
On this day today, September 1, 1980 Terry Fox ran his last mile of the Marathon Of Hope ❤️🇨🇦
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Emily McIntosh retweeted
#Toronto @oasis tickets for #braincancer research! Please share - Let's get them sold! @NoelGallagher @liamgallagher #BTSM #GBM #LIVE25 #LiveForever
2 @oasis tickets for the Aug 24 @cityoftoronto @Rogers_Stadium show are being sold to raise money for Brain Cancer Research @braincancercan. Please share widely #Live25 #Toronto @the_edge @metromorning @culture_to @indie88toronto shorturl.at/b3gQ7
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2 @oasis tickets for the Aug 24 @cityoftoronto @Rogers_Stadium show are being sold to raise money for Brain Cancer Research @braincancercan. Please share widely #Live25 #Toronto @the_edge @metromorning @culture_to @indie88toronto shorturl.at/b3gQ7

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Emily McIntosh retweeted
16 May 2025
We found that: 🧬 Infiltrating GBM cells adopt an uncommitted oligodendrocyte progenitor-like state ⚡ They engage in synaptic signaling and neuron-tumor crosstalk 🧠 This state is epigenetically regulated and sustained by developmental transcription factors such as ZEB1
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Emily McIntosh retweeted
16 May 2025
Excited to share our first lab paper, now published in @Dev_Cell! 🧠 How do glioblastoma (GBM) cells invade the brain, and what enables them to spread so effectively?
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Emily McIntosh retweeted
27 May 2025
Today would have been Ben’s 9th birthday. I miss you so much Benny Boy, life isn’t the same without you. Please celebrate Ben today by making a donation to the @Benstelterfund to do what he loved, helping kids like him💙🧡 benstelterfoundation.crowdch… #yeg #oilers #stars #dallas
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What a special and important day for the brain cancer community. @BTSMchat is 12 and @braincancercan is 10! So thankful for everything I've learned and everyone I've met from these communities #BTSM 🧠🎉
19 May 2025
#BTSM is celebrating 12 years of chats TODAY! 🥳 The inaugural chat took place on 5/19, 2013. Thank you, @CBlotner_ & @thelizarmy for getting this movement started. We have helped interacted with hundreds of individuals over the years. (Graphic by @stuartselby)
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Emily McIntosh retweeted
In May 2023, a glioblastoma (GBM) in my brain was diagnosed following a seizure then brain scans and surgery. A recent MRI brain scan shows the recurrent tumour is still there and it's getting tougher to treat. But I’m not ready to give up on it yet. I feel lucky to have a team of family, friends & medical team supporting me. Thanks everyone for your support. #Brainstorm #glioblastoma @AllenAndUnwin @gmaddox @SydneyLHD @NthSydHealth @COBLH @Sydney_Uni
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