Dr. James Vredenburgh is one of the country’s foremost cancer experts about important developments for brain cancer, and he explains how families and patients can cope with the diagnosis.
A diagnosis of Cancer is a startling one. The American Cancer Society estimates US cancer-related deaths at over 500,000 for 2008 alone. This can leave patients and their families feeling distraught and searching for ways to cope with the diagnosis, especially in cases where there are limited treatment options, such as brain cancer.
For many years, the estimated 22,000 people diagnosed with brain and other nervous system tumors each year have had few options especially when the cancer returns. But, thanks to a recent FDA approval, there is finally hope for people with glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer.
Dr. James Vredenburgh, MD, Medical Director at Duke University Medical Center is devoted to improving the treatment of brain cancer and has worked in the Division of Medical Oncology at Duke for 12 years. He’s joined by 31-year old cancer survivor Steve Maufort, who shares his inspiring personal battle with brain cancer, as this May marks the 18-month anniversary of his diagnosis.
