The Brad Kaminsky Foundation is Dedicated to Raising Awareness and Funds for
Childhood & Adult Brain Tumor and Cancer Research.
 

The Brad Kaminsky Foundation
In Loving Memory of..
Brad Kaminsky, Lisa Gibson, Bob Carter, Jr., Tony Leonard, Susanne McMillan, Dan McNally, Andy Lewis, William Keyser, Diane Wyatt, Gregory Weiss, James McKenzie, Geoff Cornman, Brian Bedell, Joseph Gray, Mary Haller, Jonathan Hicks, Capt. John Flynn, Sherry Brinton, Kyle Kerpan, Kyle Snyder, James Meyers, Josie Chiang, Stefan, Karen S., Jacqueline V. Offutt, Lauren Fitzgerald, Judy Hahn, Christine Donahue, Larry Burns, Anne Glynn, Lindsay Warren, Joe Lieb, Mike Gianinni, Bill Waggener, Melanie Knight-Teaster, Judi Spivack, Niki Perry, William Schopf, Nancy Coyle, Karen Stevens, Jose Andrade, Jose Rodriguez,
Brenda  BB Huff, Mim O'Neill, Richard Alan Brownmiller, Jim Ingman, Michael Bloomberg, Lilly Watkins, Vincent Mandzak and all our Angels


BRAD KAMINSKY
FOUNDATION
 
 

 

 

Information about Brain Tumors

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. We cannot assume responsibility for its accuracy. Please, obtain information about your condition from your Doctor. The Brad Kaminsky Foundation does not endorse any service, treatment, institution or physician

Information About The Brain / Possible Causes / Types Of Brain Tumors / Symptoms / Diagnostic Tools
Treatments / Clinical Trials / Follow Up Care / Medical Definitions

Follow up Care

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is a very important part of the treatment plan. The goals of rehabilitation depend on the patient's needs and how the tumor has affected his or her daily activities. The medical team makes every effort to help patients return to their normal activities as soon as possible. Patients and their families may need to work with an occupational therapist to overcome any difficulty in activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing, bathing, and using the toilet. If an arm or leg is weak or paralyzed, or if a patient has problems with balance, physical therapy may be necessary. Speech therapy may be helpful for individuals having trouble speaking or expressing their thoughts.

Speech therapists also work with patients who are having difficulty swallowing. If special arrangements are necessary for school-age children, they should be made as soon as possible. Sometimes, children have tutors in the hospital or after they go home from the hospital. Children who have problems learning or remembering what they learn may need tutors or special classes when they return to school Followup Care Regular followup is very important after treatment for a brain tumor. The doctor will check closely to make sure that the tumor has not returned. Checkups usually include general physical and neurologic exams. From time to time, the patient will have CT scans or MRIs. Patients who receive radiation therapy to large areas of the brain or certain anticancer drugs may have an increased risk of developing leukemia or a second tumor at a later time. Also, radiation that affects the eyes may lead to the development of cataracts. Patients should carefully follow their doctor's advice on health care and checkups. If any unusual health problem occurs, they should report it to the doctor as soon as it appears

Living With a Brain Tumor

The diagnosis of a brain tumor can change the lives of patients and the people who care about them. These changes can be hard to handle. Patients and their families and friends may have many different and sometimes confusing emotions. At times, patients and those close to them may feel frightened, angry, or depressed. These are normal reactions when people face a serious health problem. Most patients, including children and teenagers, find it helps to share their thoughts and feelings with loved ones. Sharing can help everyone feel more at ease and can open the way for others to show their concern and offer their support. Worries about tests, treatments, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and medical bills are common. Parents may worry about whether their children will be able to take part in normal school or social activities. Doctors, nurses, social workers, and other members of the health care team may be able to calm fears and ease confusion. They can also provide information and suggest helpful resources.

Patients and their families are naturally concerned about what the future holds. Sometimes they use statistics to try to figure out whether the patient will be cured or how long he or she will live. It is important to remember, however, that statistics are averages based on large numbers of patients. They cannot be used to predict what will happen to a certain patient because no two cancer patients are alike. The doctor who takes care of the patient and knows that person's medical history is in the best position to discuss the patient's outlook (prognosis). People should feel free to ask the doctor about their prognosis, but it is important to keep in mind that not even the doctor can tell exactly what will happen. When doctors talk about recovering from a brain tumor, they may use the term remission rather than cure.

Even though many people recover completely, doctors use this term because a brain tumor can recur. Support for Cancer Patients Living with a serious disease is not easy. Everyone involved faces many problems and challenges. Finding the strength to cope with these difficulties is easier when people have helpful information and support services. The doctor can explain the disease and give advice about treatment, going back to work or school, or other activities.

If patients want to discuss concerns about the future, family relationships, and finances, it may also help to talk with a nurse, social worker, counselor, or clergy member. Friends and relatives who have had personal experience with cancer can be very supportive. Also, it helps many patients to meet and talk with other people who are facing problems like theirs. Cancer patients often get together in self-help and support groups, where they can share what they have learned about cancer and its treatment and about coping with the disease. In addition to groups for adults with cancer, special support groups for children or teens with cancer or for parents whose children have cancer are available in many cities. It's important to keep in mind, however, that each patient is different. Treatments and ways of dealing with cancer that work for one person may not be right for another--even if they both have the same kind of cancer. It's always a good idea to discuss the advice of friends and family members with the doctor. Often, a social worker at the hospital or clinic can suggest local and national groups that will help with rehabilitation, emotional support, financial aid, transportation, or home care. Other Booklets Cancer patients, their families and friends, and others may find the following booklets useful. They are available free of charge from the National Cancer Institute. You may request them by calling 1-800-4-CANCER.

Booklets About:

  • Cancer Treatment Radiation Therapy and You: A Guide to Self-Help
  • During Treatment Chemotherapy and You: A Guide to Self-Help
  • During Treatment Eating Hints for Cancer Patients
  • Taking Part in Clinical Trials: What Cancer Patients Need To Know
  • Living With Cancer Taking Time: Support for People With Cancer and the People Who Care About Them
  • Facing Forward: A Guide for Cancer Survivors
  • Young People With Cancer: A Handbook for Parents
  • When Cancer Recurs: Meeting the Challenge Again
  • Advanced Cancer: Living Each Day

    National Cancer Institute Information Resources

    You may want more information for yourself, your family, and your health care provider. The following National Cancer Institute (NCI) services are available to help you.

    Telephone Cancer Information Service (CIS) Provides accurate, up-to-date information on cancer to patients and their families, health professionals, and the general public. Information specialists translate the latest scientific information into understandable language and respond in English, Spanish, or on TTY equipment. Toll-free: 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)

     

     

    The Brad Kaminsky Foundation - 20227 Catlett Place - Ashburn, VA 20147 - (703) 729-9897 - E-mail Lisa@tbkf.org