Brain tumors are the second most common cause of cancer death for men ages 20 to 39 and it is the fifth most common cause of cancer for women in the same age group. Those troubling statistics should be a wakeup call according to Dr. Azik Wolf, Miami Neuroscience Center medical director.
Dr. Wolf is one of the world’s leading authorities on radiosurgery and the Gamma Knife, a technologically innovative, non-invasive treatment for brain, head and neck cancers. He said doctors have to do their part to bridge the information gap, but public awareness is a partnership.
“Part of the problem is that too many people don’t have the facts and still believe a diagnosis of brain cancer is an automatic death sentence,” Dr. Wolf explained. “We have made great strides in developing treatments that are prolonging and saving lives.”
Late last year, Miami Neuroscience Center, located at Larkin Community Hospital in South Miami, commissioned a survey by Toluna Global Research that randomly sampled a cross section of men and women over the age of 25 in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. The research revealed a surprising number are not educated about the symptoms of brain cancer or what treatment options are available when brain cancer is diagnosed. More than 54 percent of the general population and 63 percent of Hispanics cannot correctly identify the leading symptoms of brain tumors. Astunning 74 percent of general population respondents and 73 percent of Hispanic respondents had no idea that there were non-invasive medical procedures available for removing or treating brain tumors.
Dr. Wolf said that Miami Neuroscience Center is offering a free, downloadable tip sheet that is available in English and Spanish. The new pdf, “Brain Tumors, Brain Cancer, and You,” should start a dialogue, Dr. Wolf explained.
“Getting an understanding of the symptoms is an important first step. You can’t let fear guide you. Getting the information you need and acting quickly to understand your treatment options can save lives.”
The tip sheet is available at www.miamineurosciencecenter.com.
Internationally recognized for its groundbreaking work in radiosurgery, the Miami Neuroscience Center utilizes the Gamma Knife Perfexion, the only neurosurgical tool specifically designed for noninvasive brain, neck, and cervical spine radiosurgery. Led by Dr. Wolf, the Miami Neuroscience Center team has achieved national and international acclaim for its development of groundbreaking advancements in radiosurgery.
