brain tumor awareness month
DESCRIPTION
May marks the recognition of National Brain Tumor Awareness Month. Since its establishment in 2008, community organizations and support groups celebrate this month with increased efforts to raise awareness of brain tumors, increase funding for research and educate the public on symptoms and treatment options.TRANSCRIPT
Brain Tumor Awareness Month
About brain tumors and treatment
555 East Valley Parkway Escondido, CA 92025 (760) 739-‐3835 www.sdradiosurgery.com
What is a Brain Tumor? The growth of abnormal cells in the Gssues of the brain. Brain tumors can be benign
(not cancer) or malignant (cancer).
• There are more than 120 different types of brain tumors; some are malignant (cancer), many are benign (non-‐cancerous).
• The Central Brain Tumor Registry es?mates 66,290 new cases of primary non–malignant and
malignant brain and central nervous system tumors will be diagnosed in the United States in 2012. • A large number of brain tumors are metastaGc. Metasta?c brain tumors begin as a cancer elsewhere
in the body and migrate, or metastasize, to the brain.
555 East Valley Parkway Escondido, CA 92025 (760) 739-‐3835 www.sdradiosurgery.com
Symptoms of a Brain Tumor No screening tests exist for early brain tumor detec?on. These tumors can be hard to diagnose some?mes, as their symptoms mimic other diseases. Common symptoms of brain tumors: • New or increasingly severe headaches • Changes in vision • Nausea or vomi?ng • Abnormal fa?gue • Tremors or seizures • Speech problems • Memory loss • Personality changes • Weakness on one side of the body • Sudden facial paralysis • Impaired sense of balance
555 East Valley Parkway Escondido, CA 92025 (760) 739-‐3835 www.sdradiosurgery.com
How are brain tumors treated? There are several treatment op?ons available for those diagnosed with brain tumors, including chemotherapy, radia?on therapy, conven?onal surgery and stereotac?c radiosurgery.
Chemotherapy: Usually administered as a secondary treatment following
surgery or radia?on therapy.
Radia?on Therapy: Usually a secondary treatment following surgery. Can be noninvasive or invasive and
possibly damage normal cells as well as cancer cells.
Conven?onal Surgery: Open surgery can benefit pa?ents with a
single metasta?c brain tumor that can be safely accessed and who don’t have
cancer elsewhere in the body.
Stereotac?c Radiosurgery: Delivers precisely targeted, high-‐dose radia?on to brain tumors and lesions
without surgery or seda?on.
555 East Valley Parkway Escondido, CA 92025 (760) 739-‐3835 www.sdradiosurgery.com
How can I help?
• Educate Yourself: Learn more about brain tumors and treatment op?ons
• Get Ac?ve: Find a walk, run, or other community event in support of brain tumor research.
• Speak Up: Tweet, update your status, or
talk to friends about brain tumor awareness.
Visit the Na?onal Brain Tumor Society or the American Brain Tumor Associa?on for more informa?on.
555 East Valley Parkway Escondido, CA 92025 (760) 739-‐3835 www.sdradiosurgery.com
Our Center Under the leadership of medical director Dr. Brian Volpp, San Diego Radiosurgery offers advanced cancer treatment by some of the region’s most experienced radia?on oncologists and technicians. Opened in 2008, the center was one of the first facili?es in the country to have respiratory ga?ng technology, allowing greater protec?on of normal ?ssue during treatment. San Diego Radiosurgery is a service of Palomar Health Downtown Campus, a member of the Palomar Pomerado Health System.
Medical Director: Dr. Brian Volpp Nurse: Cathy Blazek, RN, BSN Medical Physicist: Mark Young Connect with us
555 East Valley Parkway Escondido, CA 92025 (760) 739-‐3835 www.sdradiosurgery.com