Pineal Tumor

The following is a guest post:

Pineal tumors are associated with the pineal gland, which is located near mid-brain. The pineal gland is part of the body’s endocrine system and produces a hormone called melatonin, which affects your awake and sleep patterns and how the body adjusts to changes in seasonal climate. The endocrine system consists of organs, which help, in regulation of various functions such as metabolism, growth, and development. Pineal tumors disrupt the production of the hormones this gland produces with the expected results. Sleep patterns are disturbed which can then multiply into other physical problems beyond what the tumor itself causes. The location of this gland tucked deeply between the hemispheres of the brain make it a sensitive and delicate area to reach and remove tumors. These tumors are not common in adults (less than 1% of all pineal tumors) and much more prevalent in children just entering their teen years making this problem more of a childhood disease.

Radiation from mobile phones and health effects

What level of radiation exposure do you get from your mobile phone? Should you be worried about brain cancer? How about other types of health problems such as decreased concentration, personality changes, memory loss, etc.?

You may want to take a look at this:

Cell Phones' Radiation Report Card

Until we get more scientific data on this topic, it will remain a controversial area of debate and discussion. 

Another study looking at cell phones and brain cancer

I don't think we'll ever see the end of this debate. Do cell phones emit enough radiation to contribute to brain tumors and cancer? Specifically, people are concerned about glioblastoma. Mobile phone companies and carriers will probably do everything to convince the world that the answer is "no." Activist groups and cancer patients will do everything to convince the world the answer is "yes." Meanwhile, we as health care professionals will probably shrug our shoulders and say, "we really don't know."

The Interphone study overseen by the World Health Organization may be one of the largest studies evaluating the association between cell phone use and brain tumors. Here's a quote from The Daily Telegraph :

A preliminary breakdown of the results found a “significantly increased risk” of some brain tumours “related to use of mobile phones for a period of 10 years or more” in some studies.

Now, keep in mind that phones have evolved dramatically and that older analog phones emitted higher levels of compared to modern digital phones (although smartphones and high bandwidth data plans are a different story).

To get a preview of some of the results from this study, click here.

Smartphones and brain cancer

Here we go again. I don't think we'll ever see the end of this debate. Watch this video that discusses the radiation risks associated with the use of smartphones.

We must remember that smartphones are not like ordinary cell phones. They are capable of much more data transmission (which translates to higher levels of radiation). So, do these devices cause brain cancer?

Ted Kennedy and brain tumors

Whenever a really famous person develops a certain disease, an opportunity opens up for increased disease awareness (and possibly much more). For instance, Lance Armstrong has his foundation that is devoted to cancer. I doubt we'll see anything from Michael Jackson regarding propofol. However, I hope we may see something regarding Ted Kennedy and brain tumors (specifically, glioblastoma). My deepest condolences go out to the Kennedy family.

Glioblastoma (or GBM) is a rapidly fatal cancer and it's quite amazing to see how long Ted Kennedy lived with this terrible condition. I really hope that we'll see the creation of some type of brain cancer foundation as a tribute to him.

Avastin: New Indication for Glioma

According to Genentech, the FDA granted accelerated approval of Avastin® (bevacizumab) for people with glioblastoma with progressive disease following prior therapy. Glioblastoma (also called GBM or glioma) is the type of tumor that struck Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

Two of the key studies that led to this decision were:

• AVF3708g
• NCI 06-C-0064E