Navigating Life with a Brain Tumor

Lynne P. Taylor (MD, FAAN) is Associate Professor of Hematology-Oncology and Neurology at Tufts Medical Centre in Massachusetts. Dr. Taylor received her residency training in neurology at the University of Pennsylvania and fellowship training in neuro-oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.Alyx B. Porter Umphrey (MD) is the Diretor of Neuro-Oncology and is Assistant Professor of Medicine and Neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. She completed her residency and neuro-oncology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.Diane Richard is a Minneapolis-based reporter, radio producer and writer. Her documentaries have aired on radio stations nationwide, and her writing, focused on profiles and features, has been published in magazines throughout the Twin Cities.

"The legal advice dovetails perfectly with that of the medical specialists to make this an all-encompassing work. VERDICT According to the authors, knowledge is power, and information can be some comfort when everything is suddenly so unpredictable. This book would be an excellent companion to Virginia Stark-Vance's 100 Questions & Answers About Brain Tumors." -- Library Journal

• SECTION 1: WHERE DO I BEGIN? ; Introduction ; Step 1: Take a Deep Breath ; Step 2: Seek Out Information ; Step 3: Assemble Your Team ; Step 4: Keep a Journal ; Chapter 1: A Look Inside Your Brain ; Basics about the Brain ; Understanding Brain Tumors ; A Search for Why ; Getting a Diagnosis ; Chapter 2: Diagnosing Your Brain Tumor ; Assessment and Plan ; Getting the Medical Help You Need ; Assembling Your Team ; Finalizing Your Treatment Team ; Understanding Your Prognosis ; Time to Take Charge ; Chapter 3: Understanding Radiation Therapy ; Members of the Radiation Oncology Team ; Important Considerations ; Side Effects of Radiation Therapy ; Retreatment ; Radiation Therapy for Brain Metastases ; Radiation Therapy for Meningioma ; SECTION 2: HOW DO I DEAL WITH THIS? ; Chapter 4: Lifestyle Management ; Feel Empowered ; Reduce Stress ; Breathe Deeply ; Consider Meditation ; Move Your Muscles ; Eat Well ; Herbal and Dietary Supplements ; Driving ; Working ; Support Groups ; Cosmetic Issues ; Creativity and Art as Therapy ; Chapter 5: Symptom Management and Palliative Care ; Symptoms ; "Big Picture" Topics to Keep in Mind ; Chapter 6: Care of the Caregiver ; Pre-Surgery ; During Treatment ; Recurrence ; Chapter 7: Legal and Financial Issues ; Financial Planning ; Advance Directives ; Living Wills ; HIPAA-What Information Do I Have Access to and How to Make the Most of It ; Maintaining Tracking Information through Electronic Medical Records ; ADA Issues ; SECTION 3: WHAT CAN I AND MY MEDICAL TEAM DO ABOUT IT? ; Chapter 8: Tumors within the Skull Yet Outside the Brain ; Basics about Meningioma ; Treating Atypical and Malignant Meningiomas ; Pituitary Adenoma ; Acoustic Neuroma ; How Will Having One of These Tumors Affect My Life? ; Chapter 9: Primary Brain Tumors ; Understanding Your Treatment Options ; Understanding Your Pathology Report ; Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy ; Chapter 10: Understanding Metastatic Brain Tumors ; Symptoms ; Diagnosis ; Treatment ; Prognosis ; Leptomeningeal Disease ; APPENDIX ; Resources ; GLOSSARY