One of America's great law makers, Senator Ted Kennedy, passed away Tuesday evening, aged 77. He greatly assisted the Obama Administration preparing a new Health Program and negotiating with both Democrat and Republican representatives.
Senator Kennedy knew he was on "borrowed time" but kept working up until recently when he returned to his home and family in Boston.
All Australian Brain Tumor Support Groups, patients and friends, extent their deepest sympathy to the Kennedy Family.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Image-Guided Radiation therapy - precise accuracy
The delivery of radio therapy has reached a new level of accuracy with the introduction of a new piece of equipment referred to as Image-Guided Radiation therapy.
"IGRT is probably the biggest advance in the field of radiation therapy in past decade," says Josh Yamada, radiation oncologist, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York.
Using high-tech imaging with extreme precision radiation beams, it targets the tumor, sparing healthy tissue. It can be used to treat many types of cancer, including the spine, lung, prostrate, brain, bladder, esophagus, liver and bone cancers.
Working tollerance has increased performance for the oncology operator, who can now fine-tume the equipment to produce a radiation beam down to two millimetres or less.
Prior to IGRT reatment, CT scans and other x-rays are performed to locate exact positiuon of tumor, including a 360deg. rotation scan to produce a 3D view of tumor. The precise directing of the radiation enables the operator to deliver higher dose of submillimetre radiation without disturbing other healthy tissue.
The versatility of IGRT enables surgeons to shrink a tumor prior to surgery, and also for sympton relief, especially where quality of life treatment is concerned in palliative care. Acknowledge mskcc.org. Geoff.
"IGRT is probably the biggest advance in the field of radiation therapy in past decade," says Josh Yamada, radiation oncologist, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York.
Using high-tech imaging with extreme precision radiation beams, it targets the tumor, sparing healthy tissue. It can be used to treat many types of cancer, including the spine, lung, prostrate, brain, bladder, esophagus, liver and bone cancers.
Working tollerance has increased performance for the oncology operator, who can now fine-tume the equipment to produce a radiation beam down to two millimetres or less.
Prior to IGRT reatment, CT scans and other x-rays are performed to locate exact positiuon of tumor, including a 360deg. rotation scan to produce a 3D view of tumor. The precise directing of the radiation enables the operator to deliver higher dose of submillimetre radiation without disturbing other healthy tissue.
The versatility of IGRT enables surgeons to shrink a tumor prior to surgery, and also for sympton relief, especially where quality of life treatment is concerned in palliative care. Acknowledge mskcc.org. Geoff.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Depression and Brain Tumor - a cooperative approach
The roles of psychiatry, psychology and oncology are going to be paramount in new thinking about depression crossing the research boundaries of last decade.
A feeling of depression representing feelings of loss, falling, flat, a sunken feeling, at most, loss of confidence and everything against you, are just some of the 'gates' a depressed person goes through.
Psychology has moved even deaper into relms of deprerssion it seems, by chance of exchange of view, second opinion, or even just a change of mind to re-examine the facts of the patient.
Now a neuropsychologist and/or oncologist come into the equasion, and with the use of imaging techniques, discover some cause for depression; Brain Cancer. Some patients have spent several months on anti-depressant treatments, still loosing touch with reality of life, some contemplating suicide.
For many now, the role of psychology and oncology is a more cooperative one, with 'rescues' from unexplained depression fear, often with no visual sign of tumor activity. Having a more substantial reason for the cause of a depression is perhaps now saving a life. Geoff.
.
A feeling of depression representing feelings of loss, falling, flat, a sunken feeling, at most, loss of confidence and everything against you, are just some of the 'gates' a depressed person goes through.
Psychology has moved even deaper into relms of deprerssion it seems, by chance of exchange of view, second opinion, or even just a change of mind to re-examine the facts of the patient.
Now a neuropsychologist and/or oncologist come into the equasion, and with the use of imaging techniques, discover some cause for depression; Brain Cancer. Some patients have spent several months on anti-depressant treatments, still loosing touch with reality of life, some contemplating suicide.
For many now, the role of psychology and oncology is a more cooperative one, with 'rescues' from unexplained depression fear, often with no visual sign of tumor activity. Having a more substantial reason for the cause of a depression is perhaps now saving a life. Geoff.
.
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