Media Release (Sent
as an E-News on 25 October 2008)
CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM
Brain tumour patients are hailing 2008 as the year for optimism.
Scientists in the
The announcement of the first results of the TCGA’s large scale comprehensive
study of glioblastoma brain tumours and this other research could prove vital
in dealing with a cancer that has proved very intransigent, according to Denis
Strangman, Chair of the International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA).
In 2008 approximately 200,000 people worldwide will develop this type of tumour
and many of these people or those diagnosed earlier, will die within twelve
months. The most lethal type are called glioblastomas.
Brain tumours can strike anyone, US Senator Ted Kennedy and international
golfer Seve Ballesteros, being two recent well-known examples.
Denis lost his wife in 2001 to a glioblastoma brain tumour and has been a brain
tumour advocate since that time.
The last major international breakthrough came in 2000 when researchers
identified the usefulness of the chemotherapy temozolomide, when administered
conjointly with radiation therapy and for a period afterwards. That was
hailed as the first breakthrough in thirty years.
In order to raise awareness about the nature of this disease the International
Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA) has organised the Walk Around the World for Brain Tumours and the International Brain
Tumour Awareness Week, which takes place during 26 October to 1 November.
The World Walk has actually been going on all through 2008 and by the end of
the Awareness Week we expect over 100 walks to have taken place. People
undertake a sponsored walk and
donate the mileage to the World Walk target which is three
times the distance around the Earth at the Equator or 120,000 kms . We ask them
to donate the funds raised to a local brain tumour research or support
organisation.
To date, 28,346 walkers in various countries have covered a combined total of
109,364 kms and have raised $4.5m for brain tumour causes. We are in striking
distance of achieving our target. This is a remarkable
accomplishment by patients, families, caregivers, medical professionals and
thousands of others around the world who want to see better outcomes for this
devastating disease.
The worldwide Awareness Week commences (in terms of world time) in Australia at
Centennial Park, Sydney, on Sunday morning when walkers cover a 2 kms route to
raise funds for the major Australian brain tumour foundation, Cure for Life.
As the sun moves across
While we advocate for better treatments for brain tumour patients everywhere in
the world we are acutely aware that in some of the low and middle income
countries the situation can be horrific. Archbishop Desmond Tutu pointed out
recently that
Obviously, many people miss out on the standard of care we would expect in a
developed country. The needs of these people are often for access to palliative
medications in the terminal stages, such as dexamethasone for brain swelling,
anti-convulsants for seizures, and morphine for pain control.
In some countries brain tumour patients suffer from unnecessary pain because of
a lack of access to controlled substances which could ease their pain. More
could be done at the international level in this area, to ease the plight of those
who develop a brain tumour, 70% of whom are in low and middle income countries,
Mr Strangman said.
Friday 24 October 2008
Embargo: Not for release before
midnight Saturday, 25 October 2008
Contact: Denis Strangman, Chair
IBTA, Phone 61 + 2 + 62583912.