will ake sale nex’ Selig eon thy ine: duc ompouseqend int Ait appr on vi aucin nes. ed.’ st ade cach! “an bi Poriel” trea ca ‘A # Baill “Meyf aeley i te adiiso| q Ge, Ly the was deli: ‘ on in} J ‘Ahes on tri d named bine es, . tbl IS nd mm = he rol ‘an pin ra a se the . ‘the auction apy 197 =3 na stoning. New Study For Metastatic Brain Cancer Underway (NAPS)—Scientists are making good progress against a particularly bad form of cancer. Consider Patricia Soni. She believed she beat her battle with breast cancer after a 12-year remission following her mastectomy and chemotherapy treatment. When the cancer returned to her bones and eventually spread to her brain—a condition called brain metastases—she was devastated, but immediately took action. She wanted to know if there was anything else she could do in addition to radiation. Her doctor told her about a new medical study and she enrolled right away. This medical studyis in its final phase to determine if a possible new treatment may make metasta- tic brain tumors more responsive to radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is the standard treatment for these types of tumors. Thistrial is one of the first studies to look critically at four factors related to metastatic brain cancer—survival, quality of life, tumor progression and neurologic function. Approximately 170,000 people have brain metastases, a cancer that has spread to the brain from another part of the body. The numberof people who suffer from brain metastases is increasing due to an aging population and more cancer survivors living longer due to improvements in therapy and disease diagnosis. Although brain metastases can be caused by any cancer, it most often occurs from breast or lung cancer. Brain metastases have debilitating effects on brain function, including short-term memory loss, compromised verbal skills and fine motor coordination, confusion and lethargy. There are few treatment options available for this type of cancer, but leading cancer centers around the country are workingto changethat. Soni completed her treatment in the clinical study on November 2, 2000 and is in good health today. “I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this importanttrial,” she said. “And I encourage all patients to get involved with their own care and ask about a study that might be right for them.” “T believe this is the most comprehensive clinical trial ever per- formed for brain metastases, and am confidantit will bring attention to this very serious but often under-recognized disease,” said Dr. Minesh Mehta, University of Wisconsin and principal investigator for this trial. “To date, the study has enrolled more than 350 patients worldwide and early clinical results have been encouraging.” This study is enrolling patients at leading cancer centers through- out the country. To participate, patients cannot have had brain radiation treatments in the past or surgery to remove their tumors, nor can their tumors be primary brain tumors. For more information about this study, or to find out if you or someone you know qualifies, call 1-800-752-5896.
