The conference includes sessions on brain tumor pathology, tumor-specific treatment and care updates, pediatric brain tumors, and caregiving concerns and challenges, as well as a range of such quality of life topics as complementary therapies, healthy eating, side effects and late effects following treatment, fatigue management, and palliative care.
Medical professionals from leading institutions, including Mayo Clinic, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center and University of California San Francisco, will share their insights and perspectives on current and emerging trends in brain tumor diagnosis and treatment. Among the featured presenters is ABTA Senior Advisor for National Programs and Services Mary P. Lovely, PhD, RN. Lovely, who is nationally recognized for her work in brain tumor symptom management, will moderate Sunday morning’s interactive patient, caregiver and survivor panel.
ABTA-funded researchers will also be presenting their research studies and findings in a special session Saturday afternoon. A full list of sessions and presenters can be found at www.braintumorconference.org.
In conjunction with the Patient and Family Conference, the ABTA is sponsoring a Support Group Facilitator Training on Friday morning for those who currently lead brain tumor support groups, individuals interested in starting groups, or health care professionals who regularly interact with brain tumor patients and caregivers. Continuing education credits are available for nurses and social workers attending the training.
The 2012 American Brain Tumor Association Patient and Family Conference is being held at the Marriott Renaissance O’Hare Hotel and Suites, 8500 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. in Chicago. To register or for more information, visit www.braintumorconference.org or call 800-886-ABTA (2282).
ABOUT THE AMERICAN BRAIN TUMOR ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1973, the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) was the first national nonprofit organization dedicated solely to brain tumors. For nearly 40 years, the Chicago-based ABTA has been providing comprehensive resources that support the complex needs of brain tumor patients and caregivers, as well as the critical funding of research in the pursuit of breakthroughs in brain tumor diagnosis, treatment and care. To learn more about the ABTA, visit www.abta.org.
