Brain Tumor Guide for the Newly Diagnosed, Tenth edition
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION BY
HENRY S. FRIEDMAN, MD
SOME NOTES ABOUT THIS EDITION
CHAPTER 1: WHERE,
WHEN, HOW, AND WHY ME?
Starting now
How to use this guide
Starting now: a guide to the Brain Tumor
Guide for the Newly Diagnosed
Survivor story #1
CHAPTER 2: FROM
DAY ONE, A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING
Tools to help you get organized
Location, location, location
A personal diary
Legal documents
Major parts of the brain and associated
functions
Power-of-attorney legal documents
Phone numbers
Second "expert" opinions
The role of caregivers and loved ones
Support for caregivers
Mind, body, and soul: faith in healing and
emotional wellness
Impairments and strategies for coping
Survivor story #2
CHAPTER 3: UNDERSTANDING
BRAIN TUMORS
What is a glioma?
What does "tumor grade" mean?
How long has the tumor been there?
Are brain tumors the same as brain cancer?
Can brain tumors be removed surgically?
What are the survival statistics for patients
with brain tumors?
Survivor story #3
CHAPTER 4: YOUR
MEDICAL TEAM, QUESTIONS TO ASK, AND BRAIN SCANS
What questions should I ask my medical team?
All about brain scans
Survivor story #4
CHAPTER 5: TREATMENTS
OF BRAIN TUMORS
Standard-of-care treatment for high-grade
glioma
Treatments and the Food and Drug Administration
Clinical trials
Neurosurgery
Radiation
therapy
Chemotherapy
Tumor Treating Fields (TTF; Optune)
Long-term
side effects
The
Brain Tumor Virtual Trial
Survivor
story #5
CHAPTER
6: ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY TREATMENTS
The mainstream
path of treatment development
How
alternative treatments are developed
Survivor
story #6
CHAPTER
7: COMMON MEDICINES FOR TREATING SYMPTOMS
Medications
for pain relief
Medications
for swelling
Medications
for reducing seizures
Medications
for reducing nausea
Medications
for improving mood
Medications
for reducing the formation of blood clots
Survivor
story #7
CHAPTER
8: SEX AND FERTILITY
Effects
of treatment and medication
Birth
control
Sex,
surgery, and brain tumor treatment
Fertility
Survivor
story #8
CHAPTER
9: "REAL WORLD" AND ONLINE SUPPORT GROUPS
"Real
world" support groups
Online
support groups
Survivor
story #9
CHAPTER
10: INSURANCE MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Insurance
under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The cost
of cancer care
Understanding
your insurance
Financial
assistance
Survivor
story #10
AFTERWORD
BY AL MUSELLA, DPM
APPENDIX:
THE virtualtrials.org WEBSITE OF THE MUSELLA FOUNDATION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
SITE MAP
OF virtualtrials.org