Steve Rothman: “this is Brain Tumor Awareness Week. Each year 100,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with a primary or…”

“this is Brain Tumor Awareness Week. Each year 100,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with a primary or metastatic brain tumor. Brain tumors are the second leading cause of cancer death for children under 19, and the third leading cause of cancer death for young adults ages 20 to 39. Brain tumors attack the essence of the individual. They attack the control center for thought, emotion and movement. There are over 100 different types of brain tumors, making effective treatment very complicated. Currently, there is no cure for most malignant brain tumors. Only 37 percent of men and 52 percent of women survive 5 years following the diagnosis of a primary benign or malignant brain tumor. Congress needs to appropriate increased funding for the National Institutes of Health and advocate for a strong investment in brain tumor research. We also need Federal legislation that gives patients access to clinical trials and other therapies that are not approved yet by the Food and Drug Administration. I urge more research for brain tumors and more funding for the NIH.”