SOUTH MIAMI, FL – June 24, 2014 – (HISPANICIZE WIRE) – Brain tumors are the second most common cause of cancer death for men ages 20 to 39. It’s the fifth most common cause of cancer for women in the same age group. Those troubling statistics should be a wake-up call according to Miami Neuroscience Center Medical Director Dr. Aizik Wolf.
“Part of the problem is that too many people don’t have the facts and still believe a diagnosis of brain cancer is an automatic death sentence. We have made great strides in developing treatments that are prolonging and saving lives”
Dr. Wolf is one of the world’s leading authorities on radiosurgery and Gamma Knife®, a technologically innovative, non-invasive treatment for brain, head, and neck cancers. Dr. Wolf said doctors have to do their part to bridge the information gap, but public awareness is a partnership. Dr. Wolf explained, “Part of the problem is that too many people don’t have the facts and still believe a diagnosis of brain cancer is an automatic death sentence. We have made great strides in developing treatments that are prolonging and saving lives.”
A recent survey commissioned by the Miami Neuroscience Center in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama revealed that a surprising number of people are not educated about the symptoms of brain cancer or what treatment options are available when brain cancer is diagnosed. More than 54% of the general population and 63% of Hispanics cannot correctly identify the leading symptoms of brain tumors. A staggering 74% of general population respondents had no idea that there were non-invasive medical procedures available for removing or treating brain tumors.
The Miami Neuroscience Center is offering a free, downloadable tip sheet that is available in English and Spanish. The new pdf, Brain Cancer and You, should start a dialogue. Dr. Wolf explained, “An understanding of the symptoms is an important first step. You can’t let fear guide you. Getting the information you need and acting quickly to understand your treatment options can save lives.” The tip sheet is available at www.miamineurosciencecenter.com.
Internationally recognized for its groundbreaking work in radiosurgery, the Miami Neuroscience Center utilizes the Gamma Knife® Perfexion™, the only neurosurgical tool specifically designed for noninvasive brain, neck, and cervical spine radiosurgery. Led by Dr. Wolf, the Miami Neuroscience Center team has achieved national and international acclaim for its development of groundbreaking advancements in radiosurgery. The Miami Neuroscience Center is located at Larkin Community Hospital.
About Larkin Community Hospital:
Larkin Community Hospital (LCH) is a 146-bed acute care hospital located in South Miami. LCH is one of 12 designated statutory teaching Hospitals in Florida and the largest teaching hospital for Osteopathic physicians in the United States, offering the largest number of training programs (30 different specialties in total). LCH sponsors an allopathic residency program in Psychiatry. LCH presently offers an Associate Degree in Nursing at Larkin School of Nursing.
Our hospital is also the home of:
— The Miami Neuroscience Center at Larkin, a state of the art facility which specializes in Gamma Knife Radiosurgery. This 25-member team, led by neurosurgeon Dr. Aizik Wolf, has performed over 8,000 procedures during the past 20 years. Gamma Knife is a non-invasive state of the art neurological procedure used to treat brain tumors, head and neck cancer, and neurological conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia and arteriovenous malformations.
— The Center for Advanced Orthopedics at Larkin, which specializes in advanced orthopedic surgery using the latest multimodal perioperative pain management modalities and state of art technology and instrumentation with advanced robotic technology. The center, led by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Carlos Lavernia, includes a robust outcomes-oriented research component with an ongoing prospective surgical registry and a comprehensive rehabilitation department.
LCH is the only hospital in Miami-Dade County with an Area of Critical Need designation by the Florida Board of Medicine.
Our facilities are a National Health Services Corps (NHSC) site designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The NHSC Loan Repayment Program offers primary care providers the opportunity to have their student loans repaid for serving communities in need. The NHSC Scholarship Program awards scholarships each year to students pursuing careers in primary care. In return, students commit to serving for two to four years upon graduation and completion of training.
For more information about Larkin Community Hospital, visit www.larkinhospital.com.