Only about 350 Georgians will be diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in 2024. Two of them were diagnosed this spring, and both have connections with Daniel Field and Augusta Aviation.
On July 17, which is also Glioblastoma Awareness Day, Brad Kyzer and Rachel Mack were honored in a ceremony at Daniel Field.
“It’s bad. It’s rare. It’s random. It can happen at any age, and it’s unfortunate and challenging for the patient as well as the family members and caregivers who are helping to support our patients,” said Dr. Gerald Wallace, a physician at the Georgia Cancer Center who is one of only four neurological oncologists in the state, said of the disease. “I hope this brings a little awareness to a very underrecognized disease.”
Kyzer, an avid flyer who was chairman of the Boshears Sky Fest for many years and serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta, said he “never knew anything about what I have until a few months ago.”
Kyzer was diagnosed in April, while Mack, deputy general counsel for the city of Augusta who has worked as legal counsel for the Daniel Field general aviation commission, received word of her diagnosis at 9:37 a.m. May 21.
Mack said she had suffered from migraines for many years, but their frequency and severity had increased prompting her to call her physician.
Mack said any change to what’s normal should be investigated.
As part of the ceremony, Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson made a proclamation in honor of Mack whom he called “a quiet storm. She‘s contributed so much to this community, and she’s done it so quietly but effectively.”
Mack has earned numerous degrees in addition to her Juris Doctor and is an expert in aviation law. She worked with the city for nine years before her diagnosis and treatment forced her resignation. To this point, she’s received treatment at the Georgia Cancer Center, but she will receive further treatment at Emory Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta.
Kyzer was also honored on the day.
The former Naval aviator and charter pilot at Augusta Aviation recently sold his beloved Piper J-3 Cub plane to Augusta Aviation.
Over the years, Kyzer often brought members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta to Daniel Field to spark their interest in careers in aviation.
“If you asked anybody about your character, the first thing that would come to their mind is the fact that you have a servant’s heart. We all know your love of aviation and your passion and your commitment to this industry, but your spirit of giving back is prevalent above all of that,” said Becky Shealy, vice president of business development at Augusta Aviation.
While Kyzer might not hold the title to the plane any longer, Shealy said “It will always be Brad’s Cub.”
And primary students will log time in that plane as part of the curriculum.
The plane was dedicated to glioblastoma awareness and receive a gray ribbon affixed to it.
About 10,000 to 11,000 people will be diagnosed this year with the disease which if “left untreated, it will cause death in one to three months of being identified,” said Wallace.
Unlike other forms of cancer, smoking, drinking or other behaviors don’t contribute to the disease and abstaining from them won’t prevent it, he said.
“The only known risk factor is radiation. It is not coming from your cell phones. It is not coming from SRS so let’s get that out of the way, right up front. You really have to stick your head in a nuclear reactor or be next to an atomic bomb exploding to be able to get this, and we know this because there were people who were, and they developed this disease,” he said.
When radiation causes a tumor, there’s a specific marker that Wallace said he’s only seen once in his life, and it was from a 40-year-old who had leukemia at 4. Otherwise, it strikes randomly without regard to age, race or socioeconomic level.
Wallace said he’s newborns and 92-year-olds with glioblastoma.
Cancer treatment for glioblastoma takes on an individualized, integrative approach, and researchers at the Georgia Cancer Center are working to “improve outcomes for patients and discover new disease modifying therapies,” Wallace said.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years and is a Georgia Press Association award winner. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
