Brain tumors can have a devastating effect on patients and their families. However, little is known about how brain tumors and their treatment affect the quality of life (QOL) of patients. Brain tumor patients may face changes in their ability to move and perform routine physical tasks. They may also experience changes in their cognitive functioning, which may affect their ability to interact socially with family, friends and co-workers. Such physical and cognitive changes may alter the ability of patients to perform in the home or workplace. Therefore, these changes may have a significant impact on the quality of life of not only the patient, but of family members as well. Patients with brain tumors may also face cognitive dysfunction (difficulty perceiving, judging, reasoning, or imagining) which makes them a unique cancer population, since other cancer patients do not face cognitive dysfunction.

Studies evaluating the quality of life of patients with primary brain tumors have usually been based on small samples of patients, making it difficult to generalize the results to a wider population. Therefore, such studies could say little about the affect of brain tumors and their treatment on other patients, who had not participated in the particular study. However, it has been demonstrated in a small sample that gender, marital status, functional status and treatment may affect the impact of brain tumors and their treatment on the quality of life of brain tumor patients.

Building on these studies, the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute is attempting to longitudinally evaluate the quality of life of a large sample of patients with primary brain tumors. The effects of various treatments and of patient characteristics, such as age, marital status, and gender, on quality of life will be tested. Once QOL and the effect of other variables have been defined in this population, various forms of interventions can then be developed and tested. The goal of such interventions would be to improve the quality of life of patients with primary brain tumors. This information also may be helpful in discussions between physicians and patients before treatment begins about the expectations the patient has about various treatment options and their effects on their quality of life. The goal of the physicians, nurses and staff at the Institute is to provide the best possible quality of life for all of our patients.

We also have a new clinical intervention study designed to help improve quality of life by teaching patients skills for coping with the many changes that occur in their lives as a result of a brain tumor diagnosis. The intervention is based on the principles of a psychotherapy known as cognitive behavioral therapy which has been shown to be very effective at improving quality of life in patients with other illnesses. Patients who participate in this study will learn a number of skills such as, relaxation techniques, memory enhancement strategies, thought restructuring, and emotional expression, to help facilitate coping with the stress of having a brain tumor. To find out more about this study and how you can participate please click here.

For an appointment, a second opinion or more information, please call 1-800-CEDARS-1 (1-800-233-2771) or e-mail us.