Brain Tumour Patients Are Hailing 2008 As The Year For Optimism

Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 27 Oct 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Scientists in the USA were asked in 2006 to give priority treatment to glioblastoma brain tumours and this week the prestigious Nature magazine carried information from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Research Network about the identification of key genetic characteristics which could lead to more beneficial targeted therapies. Another group of US scientists also released information in September about the gene sequencing of glioblastomas.

The announcement of the first results of the TCGA's large scale comprehensive study of glioblastoma brain tumours and this other research could prove vital in dealing with a cancer that has proved very challenging, according to Denis Strangman, Chair of the International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA).

In 2008 approximately 200,000 people worldwide will develop this type of tumour and many of these people or those diagnosed earlier, will die within twelve months of diagnosis. The most lethal type are called glioblastomas.

Brain tumours can strike anyone, US Senator Ted Kennedy and international golfer Seve Ballesteros, being two recent well-known examples.

Denis lost his wife in 2001 to a glioblastoma brain tumour and has been a brain tumour advocate since that time.

The last major international breakthrough came in 2000 when researchers identified the usefulness of the chemotherapy temozolomide, when administered conjointly with radiation therapy and for a period afterwards. That was hailed as the first breakthrough in thirty years.

In order to raise awareness about the nature of this disease the International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA) has organised the Walk Around the World for Brain Tumours and the International Brain Tumour Awareness Week, which takes place during 26 October to 1 November.

The World Walk has actually been going on all through 2008 and by the end of the Awareness Week we expect over 100 walks to have taken place. People undertake a sponsored walk and donate the mileage to the World Walk target which is three times the distance around the Earth at the Equator or 120,000 kms . We ask them to donate the funds raised to a local brain tumour research or support organisation.

To date, 28,346 walkers in various countries have covered a combined total of 109,364 kms and have raised $4.5m for brain tumour causes. We are in striking distance of achieving our target. This is a remarkable accomplishment by patients, families, caregivers, medical professionals and thousands of others around the world who want to see better outcomes for this devastating disease.

The worldwide Awareness Week commences (in terms of world time) in Australia at Centennial Park, Sydney, on Sunday morning when walkers will cover a 2 kms route to raise funds for the major Australian brain tumour foundation, Cure for Life.

As the sun moves across Australia and the world, other events will be held, including gatherings in Singapore, Hong Kong, Europe and North America. (A listing of some of the events to be held during the Week and their contacts is available at: http://www.theibta.org/proposedevents.html )

While we advocate for better treatments for brain tumour patients everywhere in the world we are acutely aware that in some of the low and middle income countries the situation can be horrific. Archbishop Desmond Tutu pointed out recently that Africa has only one neurosurgeon for each 1.2 million people, Mr Strangman said.

Obviously, many people miss out on the standard of care we would expect in a developed country. The needs of these people are often for access to palliative medications in the terminal stages, such as dexamethasone for brain swelling, anti-convulsants for seizures, and morphine for pain control.

In some countries brain tumour patients suffer from unnecessary pain because of a lack of access to controlled substances which could ease their pain. More could be done at the international level in this area, to ease the plight of those who develop a brain tumour, 70% of whom are in low and middle income countries, Mr Strangman said.

Source
Denis Strangman
Chair IBTA
International Awareness Brain Tumour Week