Brain Tumor Awareness Month

As May comes to a close, there is one more awareness month that we need to pause and remember: Brain Tumor Awareness Month. Approximately 600,000 people in the United States are living with a brain tumor diagnosis, and nearly 60,000 children and adults will be diagnosed with a brain tumor this year alone.

At the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, our scientists and physicians are working every day to seek a cure that will save the lives of these patients. Some of this research is conducted through our SPORE (Specialized Program of Research Excellence) program, a $2.3-million grant from the National Cancer Institute that is designed to move scientific findings quickly and efficiently from the laboratory bench to the patient bedside. For example, one of the most promising projects of the SPORE involves using the herpes simplex virus to target and kill brain tumor cells while sparing the surrounding cells.

This is just one example of the innovative research being done at the Cancer Center. I encourage you to visit our website to learn more about our brain tumor research program and read stories of our patients whose lives were saved by the treatments they received here.

-Ed Partridge, M.D.

Think Twice Before Fun in the Sun

Did you know that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States? Since May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, we'd like to take this opportunity to remind you of the health hazards that come with too much sun exposure.

When referring to the summer season, many people associate the phrases "tanning" and "laying out" with summer fun. Although getting that perfect bronze tan for a few months may look great, it also has its potential consequences. Here are a few facts to illustrate just how serious skin cancer can be:

A Special Thank You to Oncology Nurses

Hectic days in the hospital and clinics are not rare at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, but through it all, our oncology nurses are always there to offer help. With May being Oncology Nursing Month, we'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of our wonderful nurses for their hard work and dedication!

The Cancer Center is home to some of the best nurses in the country, and we're proud to have them on our team. Individuals undergoing cancer treatment need caring and compassionate people surrounding them, and our oncology nurses provide that to the highest level. For more than 40 years, our doctors and nurses and have helped save lives, and that's something we're extremely proud of.

On behalf of the Cancer Center and all the patients treated here over the years, I offer my sincere thanks to all of our nurses for their dedication and commitment to taking care of those in need.

-Ed Partridge, M.D.