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10/23: BC Cancer Agency and BC Children’s Hospital host information day for adult and young brain tumour patients and family members
In April of 2003, BC Cancer Agency researcher Yaron Butterfield was riding the crest of a career high. He was a member of the young scientific team at the BC Cancer Agency’s Genome Sciences Centre (GSC) receiving national acclaim for sequencing the SARS genome. The then 29 year-old was excited about his future.
Less than a year later, in February of 2004, Yaron was diagnosed with a Grade IV astrocytoma – a serious form of brain cancer – after suffering a seizure in his parents’ home. “I was lucky to have been around family when it happened, and they were able to get help immediately.”
A CT scan showed a lesion in the brain, which was followed by a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis, and a treatment plan of radiation and chemotherapy for six weeks. However, Yaron had another bout with cancer in November 2005, followed by more treatment. “I consider myself lucky,” says Yaron. “Typically, if this type of cancer recurs, it is very difficult to treat successfully.”
Yaron’s last two MRI scans have shown no trace of the tumour, and outwardly there are no signs of his ordeal.
He attributes his recovery to keeping fit (playing hockey and Tae-kwon-do); “exercising” the brain by learning new things, such as taking art classes; and focusing on what’s important in life, including his family and friends, and giving back to the community.
It also helped he says to set goals and celebrate attaining them. One of his most impressive achievements was to train and run a 42.2 kilometre marathon in Iceland, 18 months after his diagnosis.
Now, he’s getting ready to go back to work at GSC, and he’s excited about the future again. “I feel better than ever,” says Yaron.
Yaron is one of the lucky ones – because his brain tumour didn’t affect his thought, speech, motor function, or cause major changes in his personality. His story offers hope to many brain tumour patients, and that’s why he’s been asked to speak at the BC Cancer Agency and BC Children’s Hospital Brain Tumour Information Day on Saturday, October 28. The focus of the day is to provide information and support for primary brain tumour patients and their families.
Brain Tumour Information Day
“The prognosis can seem bleak for many brain tumour patients,” says Rosemary Cashman, an advance practice nurse in neuro-oncology at the BC Cancer Agency. “The mortality rate for adult patients with primary brain tumours is high. Patients
suffer so many physical losses, and as presently there is no cure, they face the prospect of ongoing treatments.”
Rosemary and BC Cancer Agency counsellor Maureen Parkinson, and oncologist Dr. Michael McKenzie, along with an interdisciplinary team at GF Strong Rehabilitation Hospital, are conducting a study, funded largely by the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, to look at the support needs of adult brain tumour patients.
“One of our mandates at the BC Cancer Agency is to improve the quality of life of patients living with cancer, so this type of research is important to us,” says Parkinson.
“Brain tumour patients as a group require intensive rehabilitation services for impairments in thinking, memory, vision, speech, and mobility. The outcome of the project is to provide an intervention and treatment program based on what patients say will make a difference in their lives.”
The brain tumour information day also includes a “hats tribute” to honour patients who are battling a brain tumour or who have succumbed to the disease. About 100 different hats will be on display, along with their owners’ stories.
Yaron will be bringing along his white baseball hat to show the audience. “I pretty much had it on the entire time until my hair grew back,” he says. “I met my wife while I was undergoing treatment and it was almost a month before she saw me with my hat off.
The Brain Tumour Information Day will be held October 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the BC Cancer Agency’s Research Centre at 675 West 10th Avenue. To register, please call Diana Hass at 604.877.6000, local 2194. Pre-registration is required by Thursday, October 26. Priority registration will be given to brain tumour patients and their family members/caregivers.
Speakers will provide information on innovations in treatments for adult and pediatric brain tumour patients; neuropsychological issues; care for the caregiver; relaxation therapies/yoga; and complementary therapies.
Approximately, 2,500 (NCIC estimates) Canadian adults will be diagnosed with brain cancer this year, and 1,650 will die from the disease. Brain cancer is most common in adults in their prime (in their 50s and 60s), but also accounts for a large percentage of cancer-related deaths in young adults. The incidence of brain tumours is rising, especially among the elderly. Unlike other tumours, the word “benign” does not really apply to brain tumours, as even tumours which are not aggressively growing can cause disability and death.
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