Oklahoma CyberKnife focuses on education during Brain Tumor Awareness Month

May marks the recognition of National Brain Tumor Awareness Month. Since its establishment in 2008, community organizations and support groups celebrate this month with increased efforts to raise awareness of brain tumors, increase funding for research and educate the public on symptoms and treatment options.

The Central Brain Tumor Registry estimates 66,290 new cases of primary non–malignant and malignant brain and central nervous system tumors will be diagnosed in the United States in 2012. What patients may not know is that a large percentage of those diagnoses will be from metastatic tumors, tumors that develop from cancer cells that have spread from another part of the body.

“When researching treatment options, it’s important to know the right questions to ask,” explains Dr. Diane Heaton, medical director of Oklahoma CyberKnife. “Patients should explore all treatment options and voice their concerns before deciding on which treatment is best for them.”

For more information, view our Brain Tumor Awareness presentation here.