Newswise — LOS ANGELES (June 21, 2012) – Brain tumor patients, families and caregivers are invited to an educational conference that will focus on patient empowerment June 23 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
The free, Saturday program, “Outsmarting Brain Tumors,” will feature presentations by Keith L. Black, MD, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery, and other treatment and research experts.
“Our emphasis for this year’s conference is on helping patients and their families understand all aspects of the disease so they can make the best, most informed health care decisions,” said Black, director of the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, director of the Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., Brain Tumor Center, and the Ruth and Lawrence Harvey Chair in Neuroscience.
The morning session will include:
Terms and definitionsHow to select a health care teamChemotherapyRadiation therapySurgical decision-making: re-operationClinical trialsNew and promising treatmentsLong-term survivors with brain cancerHow you can get involvedNews delivery survey
Breakout Session A will cover:
Patient presentations on surviving brain tumorsNavigating social servicesAlternative therapiesNutrition and exerciseRehabilitationSupport groupsEnd of life care and considerationsBasics of statisticsHow the Tumor Board worksThe Internet and valid informationQ-and-A sessions
Participants may instead choose to attend Breakout Session B, where doctors will meet individually with patients. First come, first served reservations will be available at check-in; anyone interested should bring scans and medical documentation for review.
Speakers will include:
Arash Asher, MD, director of Cancer Survivorship & Rehabilitation at Cedars-Sinai’s Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer InstituteKeith L. Black, MD, chair and professor in Cedars-Sinai’s Department of Neurosurgery, director of the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, director of the Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., Brain Tumor Center, and the Ruth and Lawrence Harvey Chair in NeuroscienceParag Bharadwaj, MD, medical director of Palliative Care Services at Cedars-SinaiRay M. Chu, MD, neurosurgeon at Cedars-SinaiDoniel Drazin, MD, neurosurgical resident at Cedars-SinaiDavid Esquith, licensed clinical social worker at Cedars-SinaiJethro L. Hu, MD, neuro-oncologist at Cedars-SinaiAmin J. Mirhadi, MD, radiation oncologist at Cedars-SinaiMiriam Nuno, PhD, senior biostatistician and assistant professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-SinaiChirag G. Patil, MD, director of the Center for Neurosurgical Outcomes Research at Cedars-SinaiSurasak Phuphanich, MD, director of the Neuro-Oncology Program at Cedars-SinaiVeronica Porsche, PsyD, clinical psychologist at Cedars-SinaiLucy Postolov, licensed acupuncturist at Cedars-SinaiAlyssa Tennenbaum, registered dietitian at Cedars-SinaiJohn S. Yu, MD, director of Surgical Neuro-oncology at Cedars-Sinai, medical director of the Brain Tumor Center, neurosurgical director of the Gamma Knife Program, and professor and vice chair in the Department of Neurosurgery
The conference, supported by Cancer Support Community, National Brain Tumor Society, the Musella Foundation and Genentech, Inc., will run from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at Cedars-Sinai’s Harvey Morse Auditorium, Plaza Level, South Tower, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. The event, lunch and parking are free but seating is limited and registration is required. For more information or to register, visit www.cedars-sinai.edu/neuroptconf or call 1-800-CEDARS-1 (1-800-233-2771).
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