Young Adult Issues with NonMalignant Brain Tumors

1
Young Adult Issues with Non-Malignant Brain
Tumors

• 10/3/09 Meningioma Awareness Day, Harvard Medical
  School Conference Center
• Eric Anthony Galvez PT DPT CSCS

2
Erics Biography

• Immature 34 year old
• Active Male
• Physical Therapist
• 2nd generation Filipino-American
• Jock not a writer
• Outline discussion

www.ericgalvezdpt.com
3
Brain Tumor Statistics

• 190,000/year diagnosed with a brain tumor. 1
• Certain "benign" brain tumors, have worse
  survival rates than breast cancer. 1
• Enhancing the quality of life requires access to
• specialty care
• clinical trials
• follow-up care
• rehabilitation services 1

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4
Brain Tumor Statistics

• Metastatic brain tumors are the most common types
  of brain tumors. 
• They occur in 10-15 of people with cancer. 2
• Primary brain tumors generally do not metastasize
  to other parts of the body.2
• There are currently no known causes of brain
  tumors. 
• Complete and accurate data is needed for
• Causes
• Research leading to improved diagnosis and
  treatment.2

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Brain Tumor Statistics1
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Meningiomas

• 30.1 of all primary brain tumors(the most
  common type of primary brain tumor.)3
• Affect sensory and cognitive functioning.3
• Patients are often unsymptomatic until the tumor
  is quite large.3  
• The cause of meningiomas is unknown.3 
• Many patients have no risk factors.3
• Most common in elderly, women4

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7
Brain Tumor Celebrities

• Tim Gullikson, 44 Pete Sampras' Tennis Coach
• Bob Marley, 36 Reggae Singer
• George Gershwin, 36 Composer
• Wilma Rudolph, 54 Olympic Gold Medallist
• Lyle Alzado, 43 Football Player

• Pete Rozelle, 70 NFL Commissioner
• Gene Siskel,53 Movie Critic
• Elizabeth Taylor, actress
• Mark Ruffalo, actor
• Lance Armstrong, 7X Tour De France Cycling
  Champion

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Young Adult Statistics

• 70,000 people 15-39 diagnosed with cancer each
  year5
• In the past 20 years, there has been NO
  IMPROVEMENT IN SURVIVAL rates of YA, while the
  pediatric and geriatric have steadily improved.

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9
Young Adults Cancers Orphan Generation5

• Lack of participation in Clinical trials
• Lack of research
• too young/ too old for studies
• Access to studies5
• Entry level jobs with poor healthcare5
• Superman complex

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Issues For Young Adults with Brain Tumors
Career/education

• Career/education
• Return to work/school?
• New Job?
• New Career path?
• Resources
• Sams Fund www.thesamfund.org
• Hospital social workers

www.ericgalvezdpt.com
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Issues For Young Adults with Brain Tumors
Emotional support/isolation

• Emotional support/isolation
• Resources
• Im Too Young For This www.i2y.org
• Planet Cancer www.myplanet.planetcancer.org
• Camp Mak-A Dream www.campdream.org
• First Descents www.firstdescents.org
• mAss Kickers Foundation www.mAssKickers.org

www.ericgalvezdpt.com
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Issues For Young Adults with Brain Tumors
Relationships

• Relationships Discussion
• Family
• Friends
• dating 
• Marriage
• How do you deal with people?
• Impairments?
• Expectations?

www.ericgalvezdpt.com
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Issues For Young Adults with Brain Tumors Brain
tumor advocacy 

• Brain tumor advocacy  
• Resources
• National Brain Tumor Society www.braintumor.org/
  GeneralMenu
• Meningioma Mommas www.meningiomamommas.org
• Brain Trust www.braintrust.org

www.ericgalvezdpt.com
14
Lessons Learned

• How you react to a challenge will dictate how
  other people will react
• It is very important to have measurable GOALS!
• Be prepared. Do your homework! Never stop
  learning!

www.ericgalvezdpt.com
15
Tumors Suck Day

• 10/25/09 www.masskickers.org
• Help me spread awareness for adolescents and
  young adults
• Join the facebook group Tumors Suck!

www.ericgalvezdpt.com
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mAss Kickers Foundation

• www.masskickers.org
• Designed to empower the newly diagnosed with
  knowledge
• Features real surivors (mAss Kickers), books
  written by cancer experts, and useful links.

17
Reversal

• When a Therapist Becomes a Patient
• By Eric Anthony Galvez PT DPT CSCS
• and Friends

Available on www.mAssKickers.org
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Reversal When a Therapist Becomes a Patient is
unique

• There are few books by young male patients
• Few books written by PTs from a patient
  perspective
• Few books that contain multiple perspectives on a
  single patients rehab
• Book soundtrack

www.ericgalvezdpt.com
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Erics Purposes for writing the book

• Increase awareness for brain tumor research
• Increase awareness for the plight of young adults
  facing difficult diagnoses
• Prove that a lot of people are affected
• I needed something to do!

www.ericgalvezdpt.com
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Acknowledgements

• The members of the Collective
• Jim Cocoran, Sarah Donally of the Brain Science
  Foundation
• Stacia Wagner
• Steve Yang, Dan Yu

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The End (or just the beginning?)
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Sources

• The National Brain Tumor Foundation
  www.braintumor.org/  
• The Brain Tumor Society www.tbts.org/
• The Brain Science Foundation www.brainsciencefound
  ation.org/
• Meningioma on Emedicine www.emedicine.com/radio/to
  pic439.htm
• Cancers Orphan Generation - U.S. News and World
  Report, 1/15/07 www.planetcancer.org/

www.ericgalvezdpt.com