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22 HEALTH • Fall 2017 Supporting recovery strengthens our families and our communities, encourages public awareness and helps people begin their recovery journeys. Harrington Recovery Services offers choices. Harrington's 16-bed, Co-Occurring Disorders Unit (CDU) offers inpatient treatment for individuals with mental health issues compounded by sub- stance use. Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is a safe, structured, out patient treatment program that offers a higher level of care for clients who need a structured program for continued crisis stabilization or additional skill building to integrate back into their community. You can help yourself or someone you love take the first step toward recovery. Prevention works. Treatment is effective. People recover. Make the call. For additional information, or to make a referral, please call our Central Intake Department at (508) 765-2725 Prevention Works. Treatment is Effective. People Recover. SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH Mental and substance use disorders affect millions of Americans. Harrington Recovery Services at Webster 340 Thompson Road, Webster, MA harringtonhospital.org/services WBJ_NationalRecoveryMonthAd_Layout 1 8/31/2017 3:55 PM Page 1 What to know about glioblastoma and other brain cancers A rizona Sen. John McCain's now-public fight with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, reminds us all how fragile we are. While the news is worrisome, knowing more about the disease – and how it is treated – can make it and our fears about brain cancer seem more manageable. The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system. Tumors that start in the brain are called primary brain tumors. A tumor that starts in another part of the body and spreads to the brain is called a metastatic brain tumor. Brain and spinal cord tumors may be either benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). Both kinds of tumors require treatment. Glioblastomas are tumors that grow from astrocytes - supportive cells that help make the brain work. These type of tumors usually result in malignancies because the cells from which they originate reproduce quickly and are supported by a large network of blood vessels. Glioblastomas are the most common- ly diagnosed of the cancers found in the brain. But overall, brain cancer is rare. It accounts for only about 1.4 percent of all new cancer cases in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. Many people with brain cancer do not know they have the disease because they have no obvious symp- toms until the cancer has reached an advanced stage. Other people may experience an early onset of symp- toms that can include new or increas- ingly strong headaches, blurred vision, loss of balance, confusion, and seizures. A person with these symp- toms should see a doctor for evalua- tion and treatment as soon as possi- ble. Successful treatment for this and most other kinds of cancers is more likely when detected early. Tests that can be used to detect brain cancer include blood tests, which measure the presence of cer- tain chemicals that can be altered by the presence of a brain tumor; imag- ing studies, such as an MRI, PET scan, or CAT scan to examine the head, neck, and spinal cord for abnormal growths or masses; and biopsies, where a surgeon uses a nee- dle, endoscope, or surgery to remove the tumor for diagnostic testing. Treatment options Once a diagnosis of brain cancer has been made, treatment will depend on the tumor location, size, and stage of the disease. Treatments can vary and include: surgery; che- motherapy; radiation; precision therapy; stem cell transplant, and immunotherapy. Whichever treat- ment is best for the patient, fighting the cancer is an all-out war, and hav- ing a coordinated medical team is the best line of defense. According to the American Brain Tumor Association, glioblastomas such as Sen. McCain's are a highly malignant type of tumor that must be treated through a combination of sur- gery, radiation, and chemotherapy. But there is more to cancer care than treating the tumors. Patients also need help with psychological and nutritional needs, and ensuring social support, for example. Providers, like Saint Vincent Hospital, often offer help manage the different facets of treatment. Healthcare caseworkers and providers help coordinate care on many fronts through patient navigator programs, for example. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, your best option may be working with a coordinated team of caregivers to help you navigate your way through illness, and hopefully return to good health. For more information, visit www.stvincenthospital.com/ oncologylp. Dr. Douglas C. Waite is chief medical officer at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester. He has practiced medicine in the Worcester area for more than twen- ty-five years, specializing in internal medicine and infectious disease. A graduate of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Dr. Waite is also an associate professor of medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester. CONSUMER ADVICE By Dr. Douglas Waite H

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