SAN DIEGO, CA, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ - More than 200,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with a primary or metastatic brain tumor each year(x). As the need for more effective treatment increases, so does research into improving treatment technology. Today, the National Brain Tumor Foundation (NBTF) partnered with BrainLAB and other medical leaders in the field of brain tumor treatment for the second time this year, to discuss the latest treatment options available and provide patients with the information they need to make the right choices with their physicians. The first-ever NBTF/BrainLAB patient education program was held in Washington, DC, in April 2007.
“Providing information and support to brain tumor patients has been an important part of our mission throughout our 26-year history. We work to raise awareness around advances in treatment and provide critical information about treatment options to patients and families,” said Bob Rybicki, MA, M.Div, Executive Director, NBTF. “Empowering patients through education helps them gain a better understanding of their disease, so they can take an active role in their treatment.”
Brain tumors are the second leading cause of cancer deaths in males aged 20-29 and the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in females aged 20-39(x). With the evolution of radiosurgery, chemotherapy, convection enhanced drug delivery and traditional surgical methods, brain tumor patients need to better understand all treatment options available to them so they can make informed decisions.
This free educational program “Advanced Treatment Options for Brain Tumors: Radiosurgery and the Latest Technologies,” which took place today at the Hilton Gaslamp Quarter Hotel, was developed for brain tumor patients and their families and designed to shed light on existing treatment options with a focus on the following areas:
- Understanding brain tumors - Principles of radiosurgery - Treatment options for brain tumors - How to cope with a brain tumor
Attendees were given the opportunity to speak directly with some of the top brain tumor specialists in the country who presented at the program, including:
- Geoffrey Weinstein, MD, Radiation Oncologist from Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego - Michael McDermott, MD, Neurosurgeon, UCSF, San Francisco - Joseph Chen, MD, Neurosurgeon, Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles
“As a leading provider of advanced technology for brain tumor treatment, we are pleased to partner with NBTF for another successful patient education program,” said Jean Hooks, General Manager Oncology Solutions, BrainLAB. “Our goal is to help patients learn more about their disease, the latest treatment options, and what to expect during and after treatment.”
For more information on the latest in brain tumor treatment technology, fund raising initiatives and available support for patients and their families, please visit NBTF online at www.braintumor.org.
About the National Brain Tumor Foundation
The National Brain Tumor Foundation is a nationwide non-profit organization, serving people whose lives are affected by brain tumors. We are dedicated to promoting a cure for brain tumors, improving the quality of life and giving hope to the brain tumor community by funding meaningful research and providing patient resources, timely information and education. For more information contact NBTF at their Patient Information Line, 1.800.934.CURE or visit www.braintumor.org.
About BrainLAB
BrainLAB develops, manufactures and markets software-driven medical technology that enables procedures that are more precise, less invasive, and therefore less expensive than traditional treatments. Among the core products are image-guided systems that provide highly accurate real-time information used for navigation during surgical procedures. This utility has been further expanded to serve as a computer terminal for physicians to more effectively access and interpret diagnostic scans and other digital medical information for better informed decisions. BrainLAB solutions allow expansion from a single system to operating suites to digitally integrated hospitals covering all subspecialties from neurosurgery, orthopedics, ENT, CMF to spine & trauma and oncology. With more than 2,650 systems installed in over 65 countries, BrainLAB is a market leader in image-guided technology. The privately held BrainLAB group, founded in 1989, is headquartered in Munich, Germany and today employs around 950 people in 15 offices across Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America.
For more information, please visit www.brainlab.com.
(x) Source: National Brain Tumor Foundation
BrainLAB
CONTACT: Media Contacts: Kate Franco, Marketing Communications Manager,BrainLAB, M: (708) 638-3482, kate.franco@brainlab.com
