Newswise LOS ANGELES (June 21, 2012) Brain tumor patients, families and caregivers are invited to an educational conference that will focus on patient empowerment June 23 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

The free, Saturday program, Outsmarting Brain Tumors, will feature presentations by Keith L. Black, MD, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery, and other treatment and research experts.

Our emphasis for this years conference is on helping patients and their families understand all aspects of the disease so they can make the best, most informed health care decisions, said Black, director of the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, director of the Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., Brain Tumor Center, and the Ruth and Lawrence Harvey Chair in Neuroscience.

The morning session will include:

Terms and definitions How to select a health care team Chemotherapy Radiation therapy Surgical decision-making: re-operation Clinical trials New and promising treatments Long-term survivors with brain cancer How you can get involved News delivery survey

Breakout Session A will cover:

Patient presentations on surviving brain tumors Navigating social services Alternative therapies Nutrition and exercise Rehabilitation Support groups End of life care and considerations Basics of statistics How the Tumor Board works The Internet and valid information Q-and-A sessions

Participants may instead choose to attend Breakout Session B, where doctors will meet individually with patients. First come, first served reservations will be available at check-in; anyone interested should bring scans and medical documentation for review.

Speakers will include:

Arash Asher, MD, director of Cancer Survivorship & Rehabilitation at Cedars-Sinais Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute Keith L. Black, MD, chair and professor in Cedars-Sinais Department of Neurosurgery, director of the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, director of the Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., Brain Tumor Center, and the Ruth and Lawrence Harvey Chair in Neuroscience Parag Bharadwaj, MD, medical director of Palliative Care Services at Cedars-Sinai Ray M. Chu, MD, neurosurgeon at Cedars-Sinai Doniel Drazin, MD, neurosurgical resident at Cedars-Sinai David Esquith, licensed clinical social worker at Cedars-Sinai Jethro L. Hu, MD, neuro-oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Amin J. Mirhadi, MD, radiation oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Miriam Nuno, PhD, senior biostatistician and assistant professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Chirag G. Patil, MD, director of the Center for Neurosurgical Outcomes Research at Cedars-Sinai Surasak Phuphanich, MD, director of the Neuro-Oncology Program at Cedars-Sinai Veronica Porsche, PsyD, clinical psychologist at Cedars-Sinai Lucy Postolov, licensed acupuncturist at Cedars-Sinai Alyssa Tennenbaum, registered dietitian at Cedars-Sinai John S. Yu, MD, director of Surgical Neuro-oncology at Cedars-Sinai, medical director of the Brain Tumor Center, neurosurgical director of the Gamma Knife Program, and professor and vice chair in the Department of Neurosurgery

Visit link:
Patient Educational Program on Diagnosis, Treatment, Integrative Medicine for Brain Tumors