|
|
|
|
|
| |
Dear friend of the international brain tumour community
The following is the final media statement for the brain tumour Awareness Week
which has been distributed today. The Awareness Week and the World Walk have
been a great success and we would like to sincerely thank all those who have
been involved in these projects.
Throughout the year and during the Awareness Week itself there have been 49
walks, involving 17,628 people in 17 countries, who walked a collective
distance of 89,843 kms (more than twice our target of 40,000 kms - once around
the Earth), and who raised over $1m for brain tumour research and support in
their respective countries. Results from another 23 walks have still to be
received and tabulated.
The projects were supported by almost 100 organisations - patient support,
scientific/research, commercial, and clinical - in 23 countries and included
not only walks but scientific meetings, patient seminars, picnics, media
conferences, and awareness displays.
In this media statement we focus on brain tumour patients in the developing
countries whose treatment options are limited. Anyone with a special interest
in this area is welcome to contact the Chair of the IBTA in order to progress
this matter further, particularly the adoption of the IAHPC List of Essential
Medicines for Palliative Care.
Once again, many thanks.
Denis Strangman
Chair IBTA
Kathy Oliver
Secretary IBTA
www.theibta.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BRAIN TUMOUR AWARENESS WEEK A SUCCESS – CALL FOR ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Media statement - 29 October 2007
The inaugural International Brain Tumour Awareness Week, which came to a close
last weekend, has been a resounding success, according to its organiser, the
International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA). (Website: www.theibta.org
)
“This was the first occasion that an attempt had been made to bring together
the patient support, scientific research, commercial, and clinical areas of the
brain tumour community worldwide,” according to Mr Denis Strangman
(Australia), Chair of the IBTA.
“The Awareness Week and its associated Walk Around the World for Brain
Tumours has been supported by nearly 100 organisations from 23 countries. The
Walk has exceeded all expectations with the target of once around the world at
the Equator being accomplished twice over.
“We hope that as a result there will be greater attention given to this
cancer. 200,000 people worldwide are affected each year by a primary malignant
brain tumour, for which the prognosis is very poor.
“Sixty percent of these people live in developing countries, many of which do
not have the resources to provide an acceptable standard of care which includes
– where appropriate - neurosurgery, radiation therapy and
chemotherapy,” Mr Strangman said.
Professor Abhijit Guha, from Canada, who is a professor of neurosurgery and
Chair of the North American-based Society of Neuro Oncology said: “Although
malignant brain tumors admittedly are not a large socio-economic burden
compared to infectious, respiratory and other illness on a global level,
everyone does merit receiving at the very least the current standard of care,
including consultation from doctors who are knowledgeable in the multi-faceted
treatment of these tumors.”
According to the IBTA Chair many brain tumour patients in developing countries
do not even have access to the basic medications, particularly those that are
relevant to the end stages of their disease, including dexamethasone (for brain
swelling), AEDs (anti-epilepsy drugs to manage seizures), and morphine (to
control pain).
“These medicines appear on the IAHPC (International Association for Hospice
and Palliative Care) List of Essential Medicines for Palliative Care which was
developed last year by an international gathering of experts and which is
currently before the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“We call on all governments to adopt this list and to work for its speedy
endorsement by WHO.
“As well, we wish to see a survey undertaken by an official
inter-governmental organisation of a representative sample of developing
countries to identify existing standards of care for brain tumour patients and
the availability of essential medicines used to treat this disease.
“While we are determined in our aim of promoting access by all
brain tumour patients to the most promising new therapies we recognise that in
some countries this is not always possible which is why we call for a wider
adoption of the IAHPC List of Essential Medicines for Palliative Care which
represents one practical way of assisting many brain tumour patients,” Mr
Strangman said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
CONTACTS AND INFORMATION
Previous media statements: http://www.theibta.org/uploads/file/MainMediaRelease1.pdf
and http://www.theibta.org/uploads/file/Walks241007.pdf
Photos and reports of awareness events held may be viewed at: http://www.theibta.org/index.php?page=recent-events
and http://www.theibta.org/index.php?page=more-completed-activities
Denis Strangman: Chair, International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA),
Canberra, Australia. Email – chair@theibta.org
Telephone: +61-2-62583912
Kathy Oliver: Secretary, IBTA, Surrey, United Kingdom. Email: Kathy@theibta.org
Telephone: +44-1737 813872
Abhijit Guha: MSc, MD, FRCS(C), FACS. Prof. Surgery (Neurosurgery),
Western Hospital, Univ. of Toronto. Co- Dir. & Sr. Scientist: Arthur &
Sonia Labatts Brain Tumor Center., Hospital for Sick Children, Univ. of
Toronto. Alan & Susan Hudson Chair in Neurooncology. Email: Abhijit.Guha@uhn.on.ca
Ph: Clinical: + 1 416-603-5740; Lab: +1 416-813-6688; Pager: + 1 416-790-4804
Cell: + 1 647-200-9354 http://www.sickkids.on.ca/Guha/default.asp
Brain tumour patient support organisations: There are hyper-links to 49
national and local brain tumour organisations on the right-hand column of the
homepage for the IBTA at www.theibta.org
These organisations can provide information and comment about local situations.
The IAHPC List of Essential Medicines for Palliative Care was developed
at a meeting held in Salzburg, Austria, during 2006. More information and a
copy of the List is available from this webpage: http://www.hospicecare.com/resources/emedicine.htm
Contact: Liliana De Lima, IAHPC Executive Director +1 (713) 880 2940 www.hospicecare.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
International Brain Tumour Alliance – IBTA
PO Box 244, Tadworth, Surrey
KT20 5WQ, United Kingdom
Tel:+ (44) + (0) + 1737 813872
Fax: + (44) + (0) +1737 812712
Mob: + (44) + (0) + 777 571 2569
The International Brain Tumour Alliance is a not-for-profit,
limited liability company registered in England and Wales, registered number
6031485. Registered office: Roxburghe House, 273-287 Regent Street,
London W1B 2AD, United Kingdom. All correspondence should be sent to the
Secretary's address above, not to the registered office.
Official Website: www.theibta.org
|
|
|
|
