At the end of last November, I had a chance to receive an interview by a medical organization. Advertisement was up and there posted by a medical company uploaded to a FB private site of the brain tumor network called #JBTA Tomo-no-Kai, which I am a member of, and then I applied to the interview by the medical company as a possible applicant. The successful candidate should be able to physically move along with his/her brain tumor(s). In advance, the med company had requested me to not give the product name of #Optune (also known as "Novo TTF") used for brain tumors, which I use, the manufacturer  #Novocure , or #TTF (tumor treating fields, also called electric field therapy). I followed the instructions during the interview. However, I was not convinced. Or more, I was quite unhappy with it.

In general, the brand name of whatever a product would be comes first spread to the public. It is not until when the product name becomes generic and available to everyone that the particular product is well distributed and reputed. 

Look at people on a street or train, and many are wearing earphones, connected with codes or through bluetooth, to iPhone. The genesis of it was Sony's Walkman released back in 1979: everyone realized that "portable is fun!". The brand name "Walkman", then, spread to the world, becoming a general noun. Looking back to history will sure let us realize numerous products being a series of the chain of the brand. At the time, the term "Matsushita Electric's Walkman" was used, for example. The brand power determines the driving force at its inception.

Isn't a medical equipment the same? Optune is only made by Novocure (registered in Israel, with its effective HQs in the US). A Novo's Japanese engineer, who I meet once a month and check the Optune device to tell me a "record" of my previous month's wearing rate (%), and also she answers my questions. She used to mumble that it might be much smaller if the machine (Optune) is manufactured by a Japanese make. 

It is certainly rugged and too sensitive with a minor shock and humidity. The specifications are as follows.

・ Battery (about 1.25 kg per bottle) on top of TTF generator set larger than a lunch box                                                                                                                   ・Electric codes from the set extended to my head                                           ・Dedicated bags (two types: shoulder and backpack)                                    ・ Four flat alleys generating electric fields in my brain to prevent malicious cells from growing 24/7　                                                                                        ・Before applying the alleys, shave off all of my hairs

The point is, I should be bald before applying them. I want to hide this set of equipments when I go out, and yes, I unknowingly hide it with clothes and a muffler in winter. During the medical company's interview in last November, while raising these points, I stressed that I would not get rid of them. Asked "why?" I answered, "I have to keep living for the sake of my family. That's my hope."  Wife often says to me that I should be lucky enough to have a cure."

What is the reason behind the less popularity? Why are not many people applying the set?

"There are only 3,000 people who have had GBMs nationwide every year. The number of people who can use this (Optune) is further narrowed down, because it requires a huge support from people around him/her. On top, the national insurance started the coverage just three years ago," said Dr. Yusuke Tabei, my attending physician. It is a pity that Optune is used by only about 200 people, according to the Novocure's engineer. "I have never seen a picture of a Japanese with Optune on top of the patient head in Novocure's brochures: they are always the Westerners. Women in their 30s complain, 'I can't do it anymore', then they stop it in a few weeks since they start", said Dr. Tabei. It seems that shaving off their hairs is a bottleneck for women.

I don't like the idea to be the first Japanese model for it, but I now wonder if I could.

(The photo on the right is at home taken on January 27, 2021. The left is from the blog on the first day of Optune installation on October 7, last year. To be continued.)