When Lisa Vidal was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, she did something novel among most brain tumor patients. She drank a pink liquid that made her tumor glow, empowering our neurosurgeons to safely remove her tumor with pinpoint accuracy.
Tumor treating fields – electric fields that disrupt the electrical charge in the protein that causes cancer cell division – are revolutionizing the treatment of glioblastomas. Neuro-oncologist Nicholas Metrus, MD, describes a new wearable, portable, FDA-approved treatment that creates TTF, interfering with dividing tumor cells and causing them to die.
Years ago, having brain metastases meant a patient would likely have a grim prognosis. Now with immunotherapy and targeted therapy, the game has changed for a number of diseases. Medical oncologist Andrew M. Bernstein, DO, explains.
Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer to metastasize to the brain. Thankfully, targeted therapies are driving major advances in treatment and improving life expectancy from a number of months to a number of years. Oncologist and director of the Breast Cancer Treatment and Prevention Program at Overlook Medical Center Bonni Lee Guerin, MD, shares the latest.
New immuno-oncology drugs have drastically improved survival rates for patients with metastatic melanoma. This includes combination immunotherapy drugs that yield a 50% response rate for patients with melanoma brain metastases, which is why immuno-oncology treatment is typically the best first course of action.
CyberKnife has completely changed the way metastatic brain tumors are treated by administering radiation only where it’s needed – and not where it’s not. Not only is CyberKnife a highly effective therapy for the treatment of brain metastases, its precision spares healthy brain tissue from radiation exposure and the neurocognitive damage it can cause.
“You are disease-free in the brain.” Hearing these words nearly a year after discovering kidney cancer had spread to his brain brought 56-year-old Edward Battaglia to tears. This triumph was his latest victory in a cancer journey that spans more than a decade.
In its annual Top Docs listing, New Jersey Monthly has named Altair Health’s Dr. John J. Knightly, Dr. Yaron A. Moshel, Dr. Michael E. Rudman and Dr. Richard P. Winne, Jr. 2021 Jersey Choice Top Doctors.
The Gerald J. Glasser Brain Tumor Center is one of the first providers in New Jersey to harness the power of fluorescent imaging to treat brain tumors.
Basil Figliano, an electrician from Bridgewater, New Jersey, had perfect vision his entire life. In fact, he went for his first ophthalmologist appointment at the age of 56. Over the next few months, Basil felt his vision getting drastically worse.