Treatment Tools
Introduction
Clinical Trials
American Brain Tumor Association
American Brain Tumor Association's "A Primer to Brain Tumors" has a good overview of clinical trials.
ClinicalTrials.gov
A service of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) includes a thorough overview of clinical trials procedures, definitions and questions to consider. Also it provides a search for clinical trials across the U.S.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Clinical Trials using non-conventional treatments, as well as other info on complementary and alternative healing practices (see our page on Complementary Treatment Options). NCCAM currently lists one clinical trial for brain tumor patients: Efficacy of Distant Healing in Glioblastoma Treatment
Surgery
Check our links for the web addresses for major brain surgery centers. Also, The Patient Advocate Foundation helps patients and caregivers know their rights with regard to patients and their insurance and employers.
Brain Tumor Foundation
This surgery overview explains the goals of neurosurgery, surgical methods and stereotactic procedures.
Brain Surgery Information Center
Useable, non-technical information about the conditions which require brain surgery.
AANS/CNS
Neurosurgery://On-Call offers Health Resources on a variety of neurological diseases, patient resources, and a general overview of neurosurgery. See their Information on Brain Tumors.
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
NYU Medical Center is one of the major brain tumor treatment centers in the country. Mike's surgeries were here and Dr. Patrick Kelly was his neurosurgeon.
Chemotherapy
Brain Tumor Foundation
A good overview and discussion of radiation treatment, including stereotactic irradiation and gamma knife radiosurgery.
MedlinePlus
A guide to more than 9,000 prescription and over-the-counter medications provided by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). Find the common side effects, precautions while using the medicine, and what to know before taking it. Most chemotherapy drugs are listed.
Radiation
Radiation, like chemotherapy, involves risks and uncertainties. A concentrated dose of radiation is directed to a localized, calculated area of the brain in the vicinity of the resection. The radiation “burns off” the area around where the brain tumor was removed, to help prevent any further spread of the tumor. The best result is necrotic tissue (dead tissue), which sometimes can be misinterpreted on an MRI as “hot spots.”
Brain Tumor Foundation
A good overview and discussion of radiation treatment, including stereotactic irradiation and gamma knife radiosurgery.
Elekta
This site from the makers of the Gamma Knife offers an easy to read overview on the radiation treatment process (or Radiotherapy) and an overview of Gamma Knife surgery, which involves a concentrated beam of radiation. At this site, click on the Patient navigation button at the left, then Treatment Process.
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
NYU Medical Center is one of the major brain tumor treatment centers in the country. Mike's surgeries were here and Dr. Patrick Kelly was his neurosurgeon.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Clinical Trials using non-conventional treatments, as well as other info on complementary and alternative healing practices
See: Risk of Drug Interactions with St. John’s Wort, published in JAMA, by Jane E. Henney, MD
Dr. Andrew Weil
Dr. Andrew Weil, author of "8 Weeks to Optimum Health," is a proponent of "Integrative Medicine"-- a healing-oriented system that brings together the best medical and therapeutic practices from around the world to form a unified approach to health maintenance. The common thread among the varied therapies that form the basis of Integrative Medicine is the consistent focus on the body’s own innate mechanisms of healing. His website contains a variety of information such as a library of questions/answers, discussions about food as medicine, recipes, books, vitamins, and a natural medicine guide. Check out the cancer section or type "brain tumor" into the search box at the top to read his "answers".
Healing Touch
Healing Touch International - Healing Touch is an energy (biofield) therapy that encompasses a group of non-invasive techniques that utilize the hands to clear, energize, and balance the human and environmental energy fields. The Healing Touch educational program was developed by Janet Mentgen, RN, BSN, utilizing a nursing continuing education format. The American Holistic Nurses' Association and Healing Touch International endorse the Healing Touch educational program. You can locate a certified practitioner in your area.