Brain Tumor Patient Education Center Opening
To complement the strong basic science and clinical research in brain tumors at UCSF, the Division of Neuro-Oncology has a priority to enhance the quality of survivorship for patients. To this end, the UCSF Department of Neurological Surgery opened the "Brain Tumor Patient Education Center" on the 8th floor of the Ambulatory Care Center at the Parnassus campus, to improve access to resources and provide educational information for patients.
The Center offers a resource library with computers, as well as monthly educational lectures on current advancements in the overall care of the patient and their families. The topics of these lectures were solicited from patients and will range from nutrition, novel therapies as well as adverse effects of treatment. Last Thursday, UCSF neuro-oncologist Nicholas Butowski, MD, addressed new treatment options for patients with brain tumors. The next lecture will be held January 18th when the Center's lead clinician, Mitchel Berger, MD, will address new approaches to surgery for brain tumors.
"Welcome to our home, where we take care of patients and their families," said Berger at the Center's official opening last week. "We hope this Center will be a model for other brain tumor centers across the country."
The majority of the funding was provided by the American Brain Tumor Association, headed by Naomi Berkowitz. "Our mission is to improve the lives of patients and their families and eliminate brain tumors through research," said Berkowitz. "The needs of the patients have always been the epicenter of all of our decisions and our hope is that this center will meet those needs."
The second lead clinician is Susan Chang, MD, the director of the Division of Neuro-Oncology at UCSF, who presented a work of art created by one of her patients, Scott Norris. The print, entitled White Tulip, is a computerized depiction of a tulip and, since Norris is a brain cancer survivor, the print is a symbol of hope.
"Scott was not an artist previous to his diagnosis of a brain tumor," said Chang, a UCSF neuro-oncologist of 15 years. "He had surgery seven years ago and has been creating computer art for the last few years. He has even won awards for his work."
Norris had a malignant brain tumor (glioblastoma multiforme) removed and most patients who undergo this procedure survive about 15 months following diagnosis. Norris is an exceptional case because he had surgery nearly seven years ago and continues to do well.
"This is why we continue to aggressively pursue new treatments and why it is critical to improve quality of survivorship," said Chang. "Scott is an inspiration to us. It is remarkable that he has been able to create something beautiful out of something as devastating as having a brain tumor. Through education and research, we hope to improve the quality of survivorship of our patients. We hope that with the resources of this center that we can help patients and families cope with this illness."
Neurosurgeon, Mitchel Berger, MD, and head of American Brain Tumor Association, Naomi Berkowitz, cut the ribbon to officially open the Brain Tumor Patient Education Center.
Neurosurgeon Susan Chang, MD, presents artwork, White Tulip, created by former patient and brain cancer survivor, Scott Norris.