Your Path to Hope Resources

Living with a brain tumor presents numerous challenges, impacting not only physical health but also daily functioning and overall well-being. Tasks that were once routine may suddenly become difficult, and maintaining a sense of normalcy …

How chemotherapy drugs work to treat brain cancerCytotoxic and cytostatic: Two treatment strategies All chemotherapy medications are meant to disrupt the way that cancerous cells duplicate, causing tumors to grow, however there are two major categories of chemo drugs. Cytotoxic medications work by killing the cells directly, while cytostatic medications are meant to stop the cells from dividing. It is important to note that any chemotherapy medication will affect both healthy and cancerous cells, a process that may produce a wide array of side effects in patients.

A second opinion involves having a different doctor assess your medical records and test results, providing an alternative diagnosis and treatment suggestion. The second doctor’s opinion may align with the primary one or propose a different approach with additional recommendations. This process can offer alternative explanations for your treatment strategy. Brain tumors are complex so second, or third, opinions are sometimes needed. Here are several reasons to contemplate seeking a second opinion before finalizing any treatment decisions.Feel Empowered and Take Control by seeking a second opinion

Caring for a loved one with a brain tumor comes with its unique set of challenges, one of the most prominent being cognitive impairments. These cognitive changes can manifest in various ways, including memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and impaired decision-making, often leading to frustration for both the patient and the caregiver. In this article, we explore the experiences of caregivers grappling with cognitive impairments in their loved ones and strategies for effectively managing frustration amidst these challenges.Understanding Cognitive Impairments: Brain tumors can affect cognitive function in diverse ways, depending on factors such as tumor location, size, and treatment modalities.

Short-term and long-term disability insurance benefits can provide essential financial support for brain tumor patients and their caregivers who are unable to work due to the medical condition. Here’s an overview of how these disability programs work:1. Enrollment and Coverage:Employer-Sponsored Plans: Many employers offer short-term and long-term disability insurance as part of their employee benefits package. Employees may enroll in these plans during open enrollment periods or when they first become eligible for benefits.Individual Policies: Individuals can also purchase private short-term and long-term disability insurance policies from insurance companies to supplement or replace employer-provided coverage.

What is Health Insurance and Why is it Important? Health insurance is a legal entitlement to payment or reimbursement for your health care costs, generally under a contract with a health insurance company.  Health insurance provides important financial protection in case you have an accident or sickness. For example, health insurance may help to pay for doctors’ services, medications, hospital care, and special equipment when someone is sick or injured, often in exchange for a monthly premium. It may help cover a stay at a rehabilitation hospital or even a portion of home health care.

Different parts of the brain control different functions, so brain tumor symptoms will vary depending on the tumor’s location. For example, a brain tumor located in the cerebellum at the back of the head may cause trouble with movement, walking, balance, and coordination. If the tumor affects the optic pathway, which is responsible for sight, vision changes may occur.The tumor’s size and how fast it’s growing also affect which symptoms a person will experience.

Kansas City beneficiary partners, the University of Kansas Cancer Center and Children’s Mercy, collaborated in efforts to treat a pediatric brain tumor patient.

Astrocytomas are tumors that develop in your central nervous system (CNS) that grow from star-shaped astrocyte cells. They usually develop in your brain but can develop in your spinal cord as well. Astrocytomas can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).Astrocytes are glial cells (the type of cells that provide supportive tissue in your brain). Other glial cells include oligodendrocytes and ependymal cells. Astrocytoma is the most common glioma. A glioma is a tumor that forms when glial cells grow out of control.Healthcare providers use grades to describe different types of astrocytomas. They don’t use a staging system as they do for many other types of cancer.

Novocure was founded to provide patients with a new cancer treatment based on using alternating electric fields, when applied at specific frequencies, can disrupt cancer cell division and cause cancer cell death. This innovative treatment, Tumor Treating Fields, is a completely different approach to cancer therapy. What are TTFields?TTFields are electric fields that exert physical forces to kill cancer cells via a variety of mechanisms.Electric fields have different effects on the human body depending on their frequency, leading to diverse applications in healthcare such as microwave ablation, deep brain stimulation, and pacemakers.