#Pediatric Brain tumor

[pediatric-care-new-jersey]

Advanced Services for Pediatric Brain Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment

Pediatric brain tumors are one of the most challenging medical conditions, requiring expert care and specialized treatment due to the unique nature of children’s brains. Early detection and effective treatment are critical for improving outcomes and preserving quality of life. At the Pediatric Brain Tumor Center at the New Jersey Pediatric Neuroscience Institute, we offer advanced, state-of-the-art services for diagnosing and treating pediatric brain tumors. Our multidisciplinary team of experts works tirelessly to provide the best possible care for young patients and their families.

Understanding Pediatric Brain Tumors

Brain tumors in children can occur at any age, with varying symptoms depending on the tumor’s type, size, and location. Common symptoms include headaches, nausea, vomiting, seizures, vision problems, and changes in behavior or development. These tumors can be benign or malignant, but regardless of type, they can cause significant neurological complications if left untreated. The most common types of pediatric brain tumors include gliomas, medulloblastomas, ependymomas, and germ cell tumors.

Because a child’s brain is still developing, treating pediatric brain tumors requires specialized techniques and an understanding of how treatments will impact the growing brain. At the Pediatric Brain Tumor Center, we offer comprehensive care that involves the latest diagnostic tools and therapeutic methods to address the individual needs of each child.

Comprehensive Diagnosis of Pediatric Brain Tumors

An accurate and timely diagnosis is essential to formulating an effective treatment plan. The Pediatric Brain Tumor Center uses the most advanced diagnostic technologies available to ensure precise identification of the tumor’s location, type, and characteristics.

Imaging Techniques

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): The cornerstone of brain tumor diagnosis, MRI offers high-resolution images of the brain, helping doctors assess the tumor’s size, location, and potential impact on surrounding tissues. It is non-invasive and does not use radiation, making it especially suitable for children.

CT Scans (Computed Tomography): In certain cases, a CT scan may be used to evaluate the tumor's structure, particularly if an MRI is unavailable or if there are concerns about bleeding within the brain.

Functional MRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI): These advanced imaging techniques allow doctors to map functional areas of the brain, such as speech, motor skills, and vision, to avoid damaging these critical regions during surgery.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scans: A PET scan is sometimes used to detect areas of increased metabolic activity in the brain, which can help determine the tumor’s aggressiveness.

Biopsy and Molecular Testing

In some cases, doctors may recommend a biopsy, where a small tissue sample is taken from the tumor for further analysis. Molecular testing is then performed on the sample to identify specific genetic mutations, which can provide valuable information on tumor behavior and the best treatment options.

Read More: Learn How to Beat Pediatric Brain Tumors to Give Your Child a Bright Future

Cutting-Edge Treatment Options for Pediatric Brain Tumors

Once a diagnosis is confirmed, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Center creates a personalized treatment plan that may involve one or more of the following modalities:

1. Surgical Treatment

Surgical removal of the tumor is often the first line of treatment for pediatric brain tumors. However, surgery can be complex due to the tumor's location and proximity to critical brain areas. Our team of pediatric neurosurgeons is highly skilled in performing delicate procedures to safely remove or reduce the tumor while preserving as much normal brain tissue as possible.

For certain tumors that are difficult to reach, minimally invasive surgical techniques such as neuroendoscopy are used. These techniques involve smaller incisions and the use of cameras and specialized instruments to remove tumors or take biopsy samples with minimal risk and faster recovery times.

2. Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is often used to shrink or destroy tumors, especially if the tumor cannot be entirely removed through surgery. However, due to the sensitive nature of a child’s developing brain, radiation therapy is approached with great caution. Proton beam therapy is one of the most advanced forms of radiation therapy used in pediatric brain tumors, offering more precision than traditional X-ray radiation, thus minimizing damage to healthy brain tissue and reducing long-term side effects.

The Pediatric Brain Tumor Center has access to the latest radiation technology, ensuring the most effective treatment with the least risk of adverse effects.

3. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is often used in conjunction with surgery and radiation, particularly for malignant tumors. Chemotherapy involves using powerful drugs to target and kill cancer cells. Pediatric brain tumor chemotherapy requires careful monitoring to ensure it targets the tumor effectively while minimizing side effects, such as nausea, hair loss, and immune suppression.

The center’s pediatric oncologists are experts in administering chemotherapy tailored specifically for children, ensuring that dosages are adjusted for their age and size.

4. Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy

Recent advancements in cancer treatment have led to the development of targeted therapies and immunotherapies that specifically target the genetic mutations or specific proteins that fuel tumor growth. These treatments are often used for tumors that do not respond to traditional chemotherapy or radiation.

The Pediatric Brain Tumor Center stays at the forefront of clinical trials and experimental therapies, offering families access to promising new treatments that may provide additional hope.

Long-Term Care and Rehabilitation

After treatment, children may face challenges related to neurological function, growth, and development. The Pediatric Brain Tumor Center offers a comprehensive follow-up care plan that includes ongoing monitoring for tumor recurrence, cognitive evaluations, and rehabilitation services.

Rehabilitation therapies such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy are integral components of the recovery process. These therapies help children regain lost abilities, improve motor skills, and develop coping strategies for any cognitive or developmental delays caused by the tumor or its treatment.

Supporting Families

At the Pediatric Brain Tumor Center, we understand that dealing with a child’s brain tumor diagnosis can be emotionally and physically overwhelming for families. Our compassionate care team provides emotional support, counseling, and educational resources to help families navigate the treatment process and make informed decisions.

Conclusion

The Pediatric Brain Tumor Center at the New Jersey Pediatric Neuroscience Institute offers advanced, comprehensive services for diagnosing and treating pediatric brain tumors. With a dedicated team of pediatric specialists, state-of-the-art technology, and a patient-centered approach, we are committed to providing the highest level of care to children and families facing this challenging diagnosis. Through innovative treatments, compassionate care, and long-term support, we aim to give children the best chance for recovery and a bright future.

[supernerdninja]

I Can Attest To The Fact That Brain Tumors Suck, Which Is Why I Go Hard For The Environment

More children die from brain tumors than any other cancer; those who survive must navigate a lifetime of side effects. The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (www.curethekids.org/stay-connected) is the largest patient advocacy funder of pediatric brain tumor research and leading champion for families and survivors, providing patients, caregivers, and siblings with information, financial assistance,…

[ramblinganthropologist]

So I started reading Oshi no ko and they said the little girl had anaplastic astrocytoma. I wasn’t sure what that was, so I googled it and it’s a type of brain tumor. I was curious, so more googling and-

Anaplastic astrocytoma is a rare malignant brain tumor. Astrocytomas are tumors that develop from certain star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes.

( Anaplastic Astrocytoma, Rare diseases - https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/anaplastic-astrocytoma/)

Well... they certainly picked an appropriate type of tumor, given all the star imagery I’ve seen so far...

[hcg-hospitals-hcg-network]

Expert Neurosurgery Care at HCG Hospitals: Brain, Spine, and Nerve Specialists

Discover leading neurosurgery at HCG Hospitals, offering specialized treatment for brain, spinal cord, and nerve conditions. Our dedicated team provides comprehensive, personalized care, integrating advanced technology and non-surgical approaches for optimal patient well-being and improved quality of life.

[reasonsforhope]

"In a first-ever human clinical trial, an mRNA cancer vaccine developed at the University of Florida successfully reprogrammed patients’ immune systems to fiercely attack glioblastoma, the most aggressive and lethal brain tumor.

The results in four adult patients mirrored those in 10 pet dog patients suffering from brain tumors whose owners approved of their participation.

The discovery represents a potential new way to recruit the immune system to fight treatment-resistant cancers using an iteration of mRNA technology and lipid nanoparticles, similar to COVID-19 vaccines, but with two key differences: use of a patient’s own tumor cells to create a personalized vaccine, and a newly engineered complex delivery mechanism within the vaccine.

“Instead of us injecting single particles, we’re injecting clusters of particles that are wrapping around each other like onions,” said senior author Elias Sayour, M.D., Ph.D., a UF Health pediatric oncologist who pioneered the new vaccine, which like other immunotherapies attempts to “educate” the immune system that a tumor is foreign.

“These clusters alert the immune system in a much more profound way than single particles would.”

Among the most impressive findings was how quickly the new method spurred a vigorous immune-system response to reject the tumor, said Sayour, principal investigator at the University’s RNA Engineering Laboratory and McKnight Brain Institute investigator who led the multi-institution research team.

“In less than 48 hours, we could see these tumors shifting from what we refer to as ‘cold’—very few immune cells, very silenced immune response—to ‘hot,’ very active immune response,” he said.

“That was very surprising given how quick this happened, and what that told us is we were able to activate the early part of the immune system very rapidly against these cancers, and that’s critical to unlock the later effects of the immune response,” he explained in a video (below).

Glioblastoma is among the most devastating diagnoses, with median survival around 15 months. Current standard of care involves surgery, radiation and some combination of chemotherapy.

The new report, published May 1 in the journal Cell, is the culmination of seven years of promising studies, starting in preclinical mouse models.

In the cohort of four patients, genetic material called RNA was extracted from each patient’s own surgically removed tumor, and then messenger RNA (mRNA)—the blueprint of what is inside every cell, including tumor cells—was amplified and wrapped in the newly designed high-tech packaging of biocompatible lipid nanoparticles, to make tumor cells “look” like a dangerous virus when reinjected into the bloodstream to prompt an immune-system response.

The vaccine was personalized to each patient with a goal of getting the most out of their unique immune system...

While too early in the trial to assess the clinical effects of the vaccine, the patients either lived disease-free longer than expected or survived longer than expected. The 10 pet dogs lived a median of 4.5 months, compared with a median survival of 30-60 days typical for dogs with the condition.

The next step, with support from the Food and Drug Administration and the CureSearch for Children’s Cancer foundation, will be an expanded Phase I clinical trial to include up to 24 adult and pediatric patients to validate the findings. Once an optimal and safe dose is confirmed, an estimated 25 children would participate in Phase 2."

-via Good News Network, May 11, 2024

-video via University of Florida Health, May 1, 2024

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Week - June 13, 2023

1. U.S. judge blocks Florida ban on care for trans minors in narrow ruling, says ‘gender identity is real’

A federal judge temporarily blocked portions of a new Florida law that bans transgender minors from receiving puberty blockers, ruling Tuesday that the state has no rational basis for denying patients treatment.

Transgender medical treatment for minors is increasingly under attack in many states and has been subject to restrictions or outright bans. But it has been available in the United States for more than a decade and is endorsed by major medical associations.

2. Eagle Who Thought Rock Was an Egg Finally Gets to Be a Dad

A week after their introduction the cage where the little eaglet was put, was removed so the two could interact more closely. When they were given food, a whole fish for Murphy and bite-sized pieces for his young charge, rather than each eating their separate dish, Murphy took his portion and ripped it up to feed to the baby.

3. Little penguins to reclaim Tasmanian car park as city-based population thrives

Not far from the centre of Tasmania's fourth largest city, a colony of the world's smallest penguins has been thriving, and their habitat is about to expand into an existing car park.

The bright lights and loud noises of Burnie have not been a deterrent for hundreds of penguins who set up home on the foreshore in the north-west Tasmanian city.

4. Latest population survey yields good news for endangered vaquita porpoise

The resilient little vaquita marina appears determined to survive the illegal fishing that has brought it dangerously close to extinction, according to the latest population survey. Despite an estimated annual decline of 45% in 2018, the endangered porpoise appears to be holding steady over the last five years, according to a report published Wednesday by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

5. 'Extinct' butterfly species reappears in UK

The species, previously described as extinct in Britain for nearly 100 years, has suddenly appeared in countryside on the edge of London. Small numbers of black-veined whites have been spotted flying in fields and hedgerows in south-east London. First listed as a British species during the reign of King Charles II, they officially became extinct in Britain in 1925.

This month they have mysteriously appeared among their favourite habitat: hawthorn and blackthorn trees on the edge of London, where I and other naturalists watched them flitting between hedgerows.

6. Colombian is a hero in Peru: he rescued 25 puppies that were about to die in a fire

During a structural fire that occurred in a residential area of ​​Lima in Peru, a young Colombian became a hero. The Colombian, identified as Sebastián Arias, climbed onto the roof where the puppies were and threw them towards the community, that was waiting for them with sheets and mattresses. "I love them, dogs fascinate me," said the young man.

7. World-first trial for pediatric brain cancer

Researchers in Australia are conducting a world-first clinical trial for children diagnosed with ependymoma, a rare and devastating brain cancer. The trial aims to test a new drug called Deflexifol, which combines chemotherapy drugs 5-FU and leucovorin, offering potentially less toxic and more effective treatment compared to current options.

Ependymoma is the third most common brain tumor in children, and current treatments often lead to relapses, with a high fatality rate for those affected. The trial, led by researcher David Ziegler at the Kids Cancer Centre, has received support from the Kids with Cancer Foundation and the Cancer Institute NSW. The goal is to find a cure for every child diagnosed with ependymoma.

----

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[i-cant-sing]

part two of yandere surgeon dabi gets jealous?

Yandere Surgeon Dabi gets jealous part 2

Part 1 can be found here.

So after Dabi finds out that you've got a brain tumor (and feeling immensely guilty for making you overwork because he wanted to "punish" you for making him "jealous", and then u ended up getting hurt), he's panicking as he calls his father, Enji Todoroki, the best oncologist in the country and also the owner of the hospital he worked at, telling him that he needs a favour.

Of course, Enji agrees to help and has Dabi send over your reports ASAP. Meanwhile Dabi is waiting in your room, holding your hand to keep himself from having a meltdown, occasionally yelling at a nurse for her incompetence whenever she came to check on you.

When you did wake up, you were surprised to see your boss by your side, eyebags under his red eyes (was he crying? Maybe.), hair dishevelled and hand still holding yours.

"Uh- Dr Dabi?" You called out, wary of him because of the disdain in his eyes (it wasn't disdain, he was mad.... at himself and at you for having this awful disease- he's just so scared, so he's masking it up by looking at you with disgust and rage).

He hesitantly dropped your hand, rubbing his eyes to relieve the itch (he didn't want you to see the tear escaping because of the news he was about to tell you) as he told you what happened.

"You... have a tumor in your brain." He said, watching your face go from surprise to disheartened to just... acceptance.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

You nodded. "Yeah. It is what it is."

It is so NOT what it is.

Dabi furrowed his brows. "I'll get this tumor out of you. You'll be fine. You don't need to worry about anything. You'll be under my care, I've already contacted Dr Enji Todoroki-"

"Your dad?! Whoa! He's like- the BEST oncologist!" He did not appreciate you being impressed by Enji. "I don't think I can even afford him-"

"I'm handling all your finances. I'll take care of everything."

"Oh no, you don't need to-"

"This isn't up for discussion. Like I said, I'm taking care of it all." He snapped, before leaving the room, mumbling about getting you something to eat.

Following days that you were awake, Dabi showed you a side of his that he only ever reserved for his pediatric patients.

He was caring.

Okay he was caring towards you. To everyone else, he was insufferable. While he would help you sit up and sip some water, he'd go out and yell at the nurse for bringing you water that was a degree too cold. He fluffed up your pillows but would snarl at the nurses for not bringing you extra pillows. He'd spoon feed you meals but he almost beat up the cafeteria cook for making the absolute bland, zero nutrition food.

Dabi was stressing and de-stressing simultaneously. While he was calm and patient towards you, he was just panicking on the inside about your tumor, so he'd go hard on the hospital staff to blow off some steam. But you get the better end of the deal, you get princess treatment (that is totally not based on him trying to rid himself of guilt)

Anyways, just a few days later, Enji has come to your room to introduce himself as the lead doctor for your case, and that he was gonna do his best to remove the tumor.

"You will need surgery. Dabi, can you prepare OR 2 for 4pm today-"

"S-surgery?" You asked.

Enji and Dabi looked at each other, then back at you as they nodded.

"Yes. Um, do you have any concerns?"

You remained quite, fumbling with your thumbs. You don't wanna sound stupid in front of such an amazing surgeon.

"Y/n?" Dabi walked closer to you. "What is it?" He demanded softly.

"I-I don't want to sound ungrateful or undermine you, but I've been studying my case as well and well- what are the risks?" You asked nervously, afraid of offending either of them.

Enji smiled. "No, it's my mistake for not explaining earlier. I just thought Dabi had already informed you." He looked at his son but Dabi didn't meet his eyes. "Well, to answer you question- there are chances of amnesia and paralysis. But I can assure you-"

"What are the chances? Percentage?"You asked, throat closing up.

"70%." Oh no. "But 30% is more than enough-"

"Not for me." You mumbled. "There is- there is an option for chemo and radiotherapy, right? They have far lower risks for the complications you mentioned, right?"

Enji nodded. "Yes, but I would highly recommend you go for surgery-"

"No. Chemo and radio."

"Y/n-" Dabi called out to you. "-the tumor can be removed now. With chemo and radio, it's not confirmed if we'll be able to get rid of the tumor then. I'm scheduling you for surgery-"

"No! I said- no surgery. And that's my final decision." You huffed out, and Dabi glared at you. Enji excused himself, clearly you two needed to talk this out.

"You're a doctor- a surgeon! I don't understand why you're not opting for surgery-"

"The risk is too high!"

Dabi scoffed. "There's a 30% chance none of that will happen! We've been doing surgeries when there were less than 10% chances of survival!"

"I- I just can't take the risk, Dr Dabi. Its just too high for me." You said, eyes starting to tear up.

Dabi sighed before sitting on the chair next to your bed. "Look, I understand that you're scared but I guarantee you, none of those complications will happen. I'll be operating with Dr Enji. Don't you have faith in me?"

"I do. I know that you and Dr Enji are both- extremely skilled doctors but I just- I can't risk those complications."

Dabi furrowed his brows, losing his patience. "So what? You'd rather lose your life than have to live with amnesia? Partial paralysis? Are you stupid? You'd much rather die than be alive with complications?"

"Yes." You replied, tears falling down your face. "Yes. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"Y/n-"

"My mother had Alzheimers." You whispered. "I had seen what it did to her, how the disease slowly enveloped her until she was nothing but a shell. She is- she couldn't even recognise herself in the mirror one day. And it's just- it's so fucking unfair. For all the sacrifices she made, for all the good times she worked so hard for, all of it went down the drain in an instant. She has no memories of any achievement, she doesn't remember marrying my father, having kids, anything. She doesn't even remember what her favourite color was, what her favourite band was- nothing. And it's all- it affected everyone of us. My father- he died. He loved her so much but my mother would panic everytime she saw him and didn't recognise him, screaming bloody murder that there was a stranger in her bed. And then one day, she- she just killed him. Just picked up a knife and stabbed the stranger standing in the kitchen. She killed her husband because she couldn't recognise him. A few months later, she died as well."

Dabi's heart sunk. You'd never opened up to him like this before, and why would you? It's Dabi who imagines you two are way closer than just on a professional level, something more than colleagues.

He swallowed as he chose his next words carefully. "I'm sorry to hear that, Y/n. However, I still insist that you get the surgery. What happened with your mother, will not happen to you. I will make sure-"

"You don't understand." You closes your eyes, brows furrowing in frustration. "I cannot afford to take that risk-"

"And why the hell not?!" He finally snapped. He's been way too patient with you but you keep pushing him.

You looked at him, shock evident on your face before you composed yourself.

"I have people dependent on me. My little brother, he'd been the most affected by my parents deaths. If I were to go through the same things as them, he'd- he'd lose it. Id rather die than to have him witness yet another family member succumb to this, and worse- wonder if he'll get this disease too." You grabbed his hand, and Dabi's eyes softened ever so slightly (though his brows were still knit together in frustration). "I don't expect you to understand or sympathise with me, but I do have memories that are far too precious. I cant lose them. And I can't have amnesia, or paralysis or anything physically limiting because I'd rather not be a burden on my brother... or anyone."

Dabi shook his head, his hand squeezing yours in affirmation. "You wouldn't be a burden, not to me. I'd take care of you, I'd take care of everything. Your brother wouldn't need to know about anything. I'd just- I'd take care of it, okay?"

You smiled sadly, before pulling your hand away. "That's very kind of you, Dr Dabi but... my decision is final. No surgery."

Dabi left your room, opting to release his anger on some new interns than blow up on you. Why are you making everything so fucking complicated?

By evening, he's calmed down and he swings by your room to check in on you, heart turning to mush as he caught you asleep. You're a lot less mad to get at when you're asleep because you don't say hurtful things like the one where you insist on endangering yourself.

And for who? Your brother? This right here- the fact that you always put everyone's need above yours is the only flaw that you have. That and you're stubbornness.

"My decision is final. No surgery."

Dabi hopes it's just the brain tumor impairing your decision making, because there's no way he's just gonna allow you to throw your life away for no reason.

The next morning, you were greeted by... Doctor Keigo Tamaki.

A psychiatrist.

Also, Dabi's best friend. (Dr Keigo claims this, Dabi doesn't.)

Apparently, Dabi sent Keigo to talk some sense into you and convince you for surgery because Keigo claims he's been told that you've been showing... "suicidal behaviour". So, Dabi wanted you to get some "much needed" therapy.

You chuckled, because clearly this is a joke. I mean, you know how Dabi is. He may have a cold hard, stick-up-his-ass exterior, but deep down you know he cares about everyone, especially his patients. And you're his patient too, so it makes sense.

Dabi continued to take care of you, monitoring your meds and still doing daily reports on the tumor to see its progression, all while trying to provide you some emotional support. But it seemed like rather he was the one in need of emotional support from you, as you continued to affirm him that you will get better one day, that you do feel better every day.

And as much as he wouldn't like to admit that you were right, the chemotherapy was indeed working. You were doing better than before.

Maybe this was one of the times Dabi didn't mind being wrong.

He smiled softly as he watched you sitting on the bed, talking animatedly with Keigo and the nurse, Dabi pretending to read your reports over for the 10th time, like he wasn't just listening to you crack the most unfunny joke.

As if Dabi wasn't smiling from ear to ear.

"Y/n? Oh- what's that?" The worry in Keigo's voice had Dabi whipping his head towards you, eyes widening at the streak of blood dripping down from your nose. Dabi yelling at the nurse to pass you the tissues before he snatched the box from her and pulled out a few tissues, bringing them to your nose and tilting your head back.

You looked at him in confusion, Dabi's face barely masking the panic as blood started pouring out of your left eye, and then the right one.

"D-dabi?" You whispered, before your eyes rolled back as seizures took over your entire body, violently jerking as Dabi began screaming orders at the nurses, snatching the anti epileptic injection and injecting you immeadiately while Keigo made sure your seizures didn't end up harming you.

The drug worked and you were sedated, Dabi's mind going at a million miles per hour as he tried to process what just happened when Keigo's voice brought him back.

"Dabi. Look." He followed Keigo's gaze towards your lower abdomen, heart stopping as he saw a giant blood spot around your crotch area. Pulling away the sheets, he saw the bloody mess and the two men shared a look before beginning to reel you towards the radiology to get a brain scan, and send blood samples to lab.

When you woke up a few hours later, Dabi was sitting in your dimly lit room, eyes red and furious and just so... tired.

With bleary eyes, you asked him. "What happened?"

Dabi just glared at you, and he looked like he was just barely containing his rage, thinking of his choice of words carefully.

"You-" Dabi pursed his lips, before breathing deeply to calm himself. "-You need the surgery."

You sighed. "We've been over this already-" but Dabi slammed the reports on the overbed table, standing up and pacing around the room as he waited for you to read them over.

As you pulled out the brain scans, you immediately recognised the problem-

"The tumor hasn't shrunk." Dabi said, still pacing.

"Well, it has shrunk a bit-"

"It isn't shrinking fast enough!" Dabi snapped. "The chemo isn't working fast enough and the side effects of those drugs are making you sicker!"

You shrugged. "Well, those effects were expected-"

"No, I didn't expect you to fucking seize and bleed through almost every hole in your body!" Dabi yelled, eyes shooting daggers at you. You remained quiet as he continued to pace around your room, running a hand through his hair frustratedly as he continued to list how every single worst side effect could possibly start to appear in your body if you do not get surgery.

"I'm booking the OR tomorrow. You'll get the surgery at 9 am-"

"No. I- I am not consenting to this surgery-"

"Did you not just hear what I said? You could die-"

"Possibly die. Possibly bleed to death. Possibly. Possibly. I'm fine with taking my chances. And it's no news to either of us that chemo is causing my health to deteriorate a bit because it usually gets worse before it gets better!" You explained.

"Y/n-"

"No. Surgery. I'm not consenting."

Dabi stormed out of your room, slamming the door on his way out, spooking the nurses enough for them to get out of his way.

Dabi continued to walk, a murderous expression on his face as he reached the OR duty board to look at the surgeries he was scheduled for tomorrow.

Why do you have to be so fucking difficult?

Don't you understand that just because you want to take risk the possibilities doesn't mean he want to as well?

That he can't risk the possibility of your dying?

"And I won't." He picked up the eraser and cleared out the whole board before beginning to reschedule all surgeries, writing your name on the very top, along with his father's.

You're getting that surgery, one way or another.

He called his father to tell him that he's scheduled to operate on you tomorrow, before calling Keigo.

-

The next time you woke up, your room was still dimly lit. Your body felt weaker than before, arms heavy as you realised its hard to move any of your limbs.

Was this yet another effect of chemotherapy? Or just the brain tumor doing its horrors.

Your mind flashed back to your conversation with Dr Dabi. A part of you wondered if you should just give in and get the surgery. Maybe- maybe your brother will understand-

No. You can't. You can't take the chance.

Just then, Dabi walked in, looking slightly surprised that you're conscious.

"You're awake." You opened your mouth to reply but found it hard to do so, your entire mouth felt like cotton.

As if sensing, Dabi walked closer, placing a hand on your shoulder. "Its okay, its just the anesthesia wearing off. You don't need to talk, just rest."

Anesthesia?

The confusion in your eyes must've been prominent as Dabi made an "Ah!" sound.

"Anesthesia... fron your surgery. This morning." But I didnt consent. "I know you didn't consent, but it's alright. Dr Keigo said that after his thorough evaluation, he deemed you unable to take care of yourself and make good decisions. Health related decisions. So, we decided to sign you up for surgery."

Surgery? What surger-

Even in your drug induced state, your mind was able to answer your own question. And knowing that Dabi was well aware that you never consented to it, that he just violated your autonomy-

Dabi sighed softly as he wiped the tears that slipped down your cheeks. "Y/n- Y/n, come on, now. Stop crying. The surgery went well, nothing happened to you. Dad- Dr Enji was able to remove the tumor with ease, and I was right there with you the whole time. I wouldn't have allowed any mistakes, not even from my own father." He lowered himself until his face was just a few inches away from yours. "I was right, wasn't I? About the surgery being a success, about no complications occuring. So, come on now. Stop crying. This was for your own good. And I will continue to make better decisions for you, until you can start making them for yourself again, okay?" Very daringly, Dabi raised his hand to your face to tuck away some strands of your hair behind your ear.

If you weren't so shocked, you may have recognised the silent "I love you" in all these actions.

[prozdvoices]

doin a board game charity stream and raising money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, come on by and donate if you can

[ask-head-of-oncology]

OC Introduction Post!!!

Dr. Francesca Scott

Head of Oncology at PPTH (after Wilson leaves in S8)

Birthday February 15, 1976, 36 years old

Cisgender, currently questioning her sexuality, she/they

6 foot, 4 inches tall

Hazel eyes

Mid-shoulder length, thick, curly black hair

Vascular birthmark on the right side of her body, has a few patches on their face, neck, torso, arms, and legs, with the majority of the birthmark concentrated on her hands and feet

Jewish

Distantly related to Cuddy, Francesca's mother is Cuddy's cousin

Backstory

Francesca is an only child. She grew up with a lot of pressure put on her by her parents to succeed academically. Because of this pressure put on her her entire childhood, Francesca feels that if she is not succeeding at everything in life, she is failing the people that she loves.

Francesca was diagnosed with a brain tumor at six. The tumor was at an inoperable size, so she underwent chemo to try and shrink the tumor. After her chemo plan ended, the tumor was still at an inoperable size. The doctors estimated that she only had a year left to live. One of her doctors convinced her parents to try chemo for just a bit longer, and after this it was discovered that the tumor had miraculously shrunk to an operable size. The doctors were able to remove the tumor, and after more chemo and radiation therapy, she was declared cancer-free. Francesca has now been in remission for 30 years. It was because of this experience that Francesca decided to become a pediatric oncologist.

They have officially been nicknamed "Wilson" at the hospital because they share many of Wilson's little mannerisms, and because they have also been married three times. Her first husband was abusive, and she divorced him after he hit her for the first time. Her second husband was the love of her life, but he died in the same car crash where Haven (he's my other OC who she's in a QPR with) lost his leg. Her third husband didn't want kids, and Francesca divorced him when she discovered that he had been cheating on him.

She was diagnosed with depression after her second husband died and Haven lost her leg in the car crash. They had depression before this point, but the crash pushed it past the point where she was normally able to deal with it. However, she often forgets to take her antidepressants due to the chaotic nature of her job.

Francesca wants to be a mother more than anything. However, she has had a variety of problems with trying to adopt and foster, and she is unable to conceive herself due to infertility caused by her chemo as a child.

Worked as the Head of Pediatric Oncology at another hospital for about three years before coming to work at PPTH.

Profile picture!

[lostfan23]

LOST 2024 AUCTION IS NOW OPEN!

From the website :

Bid Together, Buy Alone! The 2024 Cancer Gets Lost Online Charity Auction is now OPEN! The auction closes on May 18 at 1pm ET, numerically - one at a time! IF an item receives a bid in the final minute it is open, bidding will extended for 2-3 minutes. This will occur up to 3 times before a final bid is declared the winner. *PLEASE read all registration instructions and global shipping restrictions below BEFORE registering. Thank you!*

This auction features rare and signed LOST items, in honor of the 20-year anniversary of the show’s 2004 debut! All auction items have been kindly donated by LOST fans, cast/crew, and creatives. We are also including items adjacent to LOST; rare collectibles from Bad Robot and various shows/projects that the LOST cast have since worked on! 100% of all proceeds from this CGL auction will be donated to the children’s brain cancer charity Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, the largest patient advocacy funder of pediatric brain tumor research. We selected the PBTF because tragically, pediatric brain cancer is the most commonly diagnosed and deadliest childhood cancer in the United States. The money raised in this auction will make an actual difference in the lives of children with brain cancer (and their families), from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. Registration for the Cancer Gets Lost 2024 Online Charity Auction is open, and you may register any time from now until the final hours of the auction.

IF you live outside of the United States, your auction registration will be set as “Pending” until we have the chance to discuss the very high shipping & customs costs with you. Please scroll down to read the international shipping rules and restrictions before attempting to register for our auction, and then contact us (CGLauctions at gmail dot com). **IMPORTANT: Please register to bid using an email account that you actually check and use! It has become a challenging issue for us after charity auctions when we are unable to contact a few winning bidders because they never actually check the email they registered with!

READ THE FULL INSTRUCTIONS HERE.

[punderfullll]

Forgot to post this on here last week but I'm doing my annual 9 hour long charity stream today!! This year we will be raising for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation! With Prizes Sponsored by TouhouFest and SIgyaad! **No purchase needed for prizes you just need to be in chat to manually enter each giveaway** I'll be doing my first ever Fog Gate Randomizer! I was looking forward to checking out this mod for a while!! 12PM EST to 9 PM EST!! I'll be live today on twitch.tv/punderfullll Art by @_MoguMan_ (twitter) Donations will be directly collected through Tiltify

[edgessunflower]

Shared

Pairing: Amelia Shepherd x Fem reader

Description: You and Amelia share the same experience of surviving cancer and being the reason that it brought you together

Amelia tears up seeing pictures of you during your cancer treatment a year back before the two of you met and got together ten months back after moving to Seattle from Long Island after getting a better job opportunity. You fit right in at Grey Sloan Memorial in the pediatric unit primarily looking after and treating special needs children from blind and deaf to autistic and physically disabled children you made sure to make them smile and help them even more than you had to, amelia was drawn to you ever since she first saw you with one of your patients with autism smiling at the sweet interaction before officially meeting each other a few hours later and hit it off with each other from that moment on and becoming fast friends over two months before feelings slowly developed over time which your shared friends definitely picked up on and got involved in to a degree to push the two of you together over four months. The two of you knew of the other's experience with cancer with amelia having a Meningioma brain tumor and you having breast cancer leading to a double mastectomy that left you scarred on your chest which you always made sure to keep covered, she felt every emotion and ounce of pain through the pictures of you throughout your journey of breast cancer leading her to slowly tell you her journey of having, discovering, and getting the tumor removed before pulling you into her arms while both of you openly sobbed with no other words being said about what either of you went through from treatment as the two of you ate dinner and held each other tightly with a new and added sense of understanding to each other and being brought even closer due to your experiences with the curse of cancer.

[arithecreatorsstuff]

Things You Should Never Say To a Chronic Illness Survivor

This is a list of things that are just not cool to say to anybody with a chronic condition. I have fibromyalgia, which is a very complicated way of saying everything hurts, and no one knows why. I've heard most of this crap first hand. Seriously, y'all know this stuff doesn't help, knock it off.

"You don't look sick." Uh, yeah. Invisible illness doesn't outwardly advertise. While we may not look sick, you look like an ass saying that. 0/10, please stop.

"You're too young to be sick." You say that to a pediatric cancer patient? No? Then realize sickness can hit at any age. Another 0/10, stop it.

"It can't be that bad, you're always smiling." Here's the thing... most of us in this hellboat do not, surprisingly, like to be seen when we're not on our game, and we honestly want to just die. Unless you, like a certain very fictional SCP Foundation Doctor, can swap bodies at will, you have no freaking clue how anyone else feels. -10/10, say it again and we can and will find someone to smack the stupid out of you on our behalf.

"Are you still sick/are you better yet/you still haven't recovered yet?" Uh, yeah. Chronic illness doesn't just vanish. Supremely unhelpful, hurtful, and the next person who asks me this personally will find out I can still bitchslap with the best of them. -11/10, delete this query from your vocabulary.

"You can't always be in this much pain." No, some days are even WORSE. And the stress from dealing with unbelievers stings as much as our illnesses. Again, spend an hour in our bodies, you'll sing a new tune. -9/10, if you don't know, don't judge.

"You're just miserable." No shit, asshole. We're in pain all the time. If we complain, 9 times out of 10, we're not bullshitting you. Trust us. If we don't complain, it still hurts. For some of us it even hurts more to complain all the time. -20/10, say this one more time, we dare you.

"Have you tried (insert treatment/supplement/exercise here)?" Uh, probably. But not everything works for everybody. And some exercises just make it worse. 0/10, stop it.

"You just need therapy." While therapy helps deal with the condition, it WILL NOT FIX A GODSDAMNED CHEMICAL IMBALANCE/PHYSICAL DEFORMITY IN YOUR BRAIN BY ITSELF. You wouldn't say this to a person with a brain tumor, quit saying it to us. -11/10, do your research and learn something.

"Try to reduce stress." Uh... my body is the PRIMARY SOURCE of my stress, as it decided it hates me. So, unless you got a spare meatsuit behind your desk, this is just useless. -20/10, quit it.

"I know how you feel." No, no you do not, not unless you're trapped in your own circle of this particular hell. -25/10, this WILL result in me punching the offender if I hear this one more damn time.

"You're faking it/Fibromyalgia doesn't exist/you're just trying to get attention." Yeah, because being in CONSTANT UNBEARABLE AGONY 24/7/365 is just soo much fun. Look, no one really believed in radiation before the Curies, but it exists, and can be proven. Unlike the so-called intelligence of the idiot saying this. -30/10, if you think this, would you kindly stay the fuck away from us, as you're just a fool.

"You'll feel better after a good sleep." Assuming our bodies even let us, which is rare. And for me at least, I think the last good sleep I had was getting my gallbladder out, not that it helped. 0/10, just shove it.

"You'll feel worse in a few years." Really? Cause I legit want to die now. -1000/10, if you get the urge to say this, punch yourself in the eye and save us the trouble.

"Try (insert whatever diet here), it'll help." Not always an option on a fixed income, my dudes.

"There are people worse off than you." This pisses me off on two levels. One, comparing traumas/illnesses doesn't do much. Two, this is true for almost everybody. -250/10, mean, rude, and simply unhelpful.

"Everybody feels like that." ALL THE TIME? No? Then stfu. -1000/10, again, feel the urge to say this, punch yourself in the eye and save us the trouble.

"You're no fun anymore." Neither is our illness. -10/10.

"Why can't you just snap out of it?" DID YOU REALLY FUCKING THINK WE HAVEN'T TRIED THAT, YOU IDIOT? Chronic illness does not work like that AT ALL. -2000/10, never say this.

"Have you tried losing/gaining weight?" It makes very little difference. -10/10, shut up and mind your business instead of our waistlines.

"You're not really trying to get better." Yes, yes we are. And this doesn't do anything but anger us. The very notion we like being this way implies just how dumb people can be. -1000/10, just stop this crap.

[shawnbulter]

It is with a very heavy heart that we share the Butler’s were given devastating life changing news..again. However, this time they were not being told their sweet baby Emme was sick. This time they were being told their vibrant, sassy, beautiful, smart, larger than life 6 year old daughter Lexi has a brain tumor. Unfortunately, Lexi already watched her baby sister fight cancer and is well aware of all the awful things cancer does, she is now fighting her own battle. After finishing up a fun Fall season filled with school, soccer games, dance classes, and time spent with family and friends Amanda started to notice some very subtle changes in Lexi. As days went on Amanda couldn't shake this nagging feeling and brought Lexi to the ER. Their lives came to a crashing halt a few days before Thanksgiving when doctors found a brain tumor at the base of Lexi’s skull. Within hours Lexi was in the operating room. After a long risky surgery Shawn and Amanda were given the news that the surgeon was able to resect the entire tumor. As joyous as this news was, they quickly learned they were being struck by lightning for the second time- Lexi’s tumor was cancerous and was later diagnosed with Medulloblastoma.

As many of you know, Shawn and Amanda have already once been told that their child has cancer. Just about 3.5 years ago Lexi’s younger sister Emme, was just six months old when she was diagnosed with stage IV high risk Neuroblastoma. Today, Emme is a healthy and happy four year old, now cheering on her big sister. Emme will complete her own treatment this coming August in New York City!

Lexi was immediately admitted to the ICU and underwent emergency brain surgery and has completed 6 weeks of radiation to her brain and spine. They are now gearing up for what we hope to be the last leg of Lexi’s cancer journey, 4 rounds of high dose chemotherapy. They expect the next several months will be very straining on Lexi and will include lengthy hospital admissions, but have the highest hopes Lexi will remain cancer free.

Pediatric cancer is the worst kind of torture, no family should have to go through this battle once, never mind twice. Their community has generously rallied behind the Butlers once before, we ask if you can, to help them out again. We hope to relieve some of the exorbitant financial burden that cancer puts on families but also hoping to allow Shawn to be home with the girls and focus on Lexi and her recovery!

With sincere gratitude,

Megan Bernazz

[currentlyfckingurmom]

Her Song part 23

The doctor came back an hour later. This time, there is someone else with him. A woman with brown hair and a white lab coat.

"Ms. Y/L/N," he starts, closing the door behind him and the other doctor. "We've come to discuss treatment options. This is Dr. Shepherd, a world-class neurosurgeon. I've asked her to discuss the surgical option with you. Is that alright?"

I nod, swallowing my nerves. By now it's ten pm, and Florence is asleep in the chair next to me and Syd is sound asleep in the hospital bed. I'm the only one who can't seem to fall asleep.

"Would you like your partner to be awake for this?" Dr. Shepherd asks quietly, pulling up a chair to sit across from me. I glance down at Florence and I's intertwined hands and debate correcting her assumption, but ultimately just shake my head.

"No, it's alright."

"Okay, Ms. Y/L/N-"

"Y/N. You can just call me Y/N."

"Okay. Y/N," she says with a small smile, "I'm not going to lie to you. I'm not gonna sugarcoat it. This is gonna be tough. It's gonna be hell, but I'm gonna try my damnedest to get your daughter through this."

"Thank you. So," I breathe, subconsciously squeezing Flo's hand a little tighter. "What are the options?"

"First I need to explain the reason this kind of tumor is so hard to treat. The cancerous cells grow into the healthy ones, so it's impossible to remove them all with surgery."

"Does that mean surgery is off the table?"

"No, not necessarily. We could try to fight it with radiation and/or chemotherapy. But with Sydney's age...that poses some risks. In my professional opinion, I think our best move is surgery, followed by chemo. I'll perform surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible, and then as soon as she's healed enough, we'll begin chemo treatments to get the rest of the cancerous cells."

I take a deep breath and swallow my hesitation. "Then that's what we'll do. I trust your judgment, Dr. Shepherd."

"Okay. I'll come back tomorrow with our head pediatric surgeon. Until then, try and get some rest." She gives me a small smile and stands up. The neurologist follows her out of the room and closes the door without saying a word.

I breathe deeply and fail to keep the tears from falling. I don't know what I'll do if I lose Syd.

~

I wake up to a bright light shining in my eyes. I groan, blinking to adjust to the sunlight piercing through the windows. I check my phone. 6am. The sun is just now rising. I'm not sure how long I slept, but it couldn't have been more than a couple of hours.

Sure enough, Flo and Syd are still sound asleep. I quietly stand up, but Florence stirs anyway. "Where are you going?" she asks groggily, rubbing her eyes.

"I was just gonna go to the bathroom," I say, pointing to the bathroom attached to the room.

"Oh. Ok. I'm gonna go get us some actual food. I can't stand this hospital crap," she grumbles, standing up.

"Okay," I laugh lightly. "Thank you, Flo."

"It's nothing. Will you be alright?"

"Yeah. I'll see you soon."

"See you soon," she promised with a wink before leaving the room.

FLORENCE'S POV:

I walk through the hospital with my head down, hoping for Syd and Y/N's sake that I don't get recognized.

As I walk down the busy streets of New York towards a small bakery, I decide I should probably call my manager and let him know why I fell off the face of the Earth.

It rings a few times before he picks up. "Hello?"

"Hey, George, it's Florence."

"Yes, I know, I have caller ID. Mind telling me why you canceled on Vogue? That photoshoot was a big deal, Florence. You can just walk away from something like that."

"I know it was a big deal but I had something personal I needed to do. Which brings me to my next point...I don't think I'll be available to work for a while."

He—understandably—sighs in frustration. "And why is that? I'm gonna need an actual explanation."

"My...friend's daughter is in the hospital. She has brain cancer. I need to be there for them."

He remains silent for a moment. "Is this the same friend you haven't stopped talking about?"

"George, it's complicated."

"I know. I know, and I understand that. Your life is yours and you can do with it what you want, but just be careful, Florence. We can't deal with the PR nightmare of you being spotted in a hospital getting cozy with a random woman."

"She's not a random woman," I snap defensively.

"You're right, I'm sorry. But you get my point. Just be careful. And you can't avoid work entirely. You may have to come in a few times."

I sigh, knowing that's as good as it will get. "Okay, fine. I have to go. Thank you, George."

We exchange our goodbyes and I head into the bakery to get some food.

When I get back to the hospital, I expect Y/N to be sitting in the hospital room. But she's not. When I reach Syd's room, she's pacing outside with her hands on her head, tears streaming down her face.

I rush over to her and put the bag and coffee on the ground. "Y/N, darling, what's wrong? What happened?" She stumbles over her words, panting heavy breaths. I notice the blinds and door to the room are closed.

I cup her face in my hands and force her to stop pacing. "Look at me. Y/N, look at me. What happened?"

"Syd- she's having a seizure. They're trying to stop it," she chokes out. My heart skips a beat and my stomach fills with dread. I don't know what to do. I don't know what to say. I can't fix this. I can't do anything to help. So I just hold her in my arms and pray to any deity that might be out there to please, save this little girl.

Y/N'S POV:

Florence sways me back in forth in her arms and, surprisingly, it helps calm me down a little bit. I listen to her steady, fast heartbeat and small whispers of sweet words.

After a few more minutes that felt like an eternity and a half, the nurses leave the room. Dr. Shepherd comes out and approaches us with a somber expression. I turn to face her, but Flo still keeps a hand on the small of my back.

"It took longer than I'd like, but we gave her diazepam to stop the seizure. She's asleep for now, but she'll probably wake up in an hour or less. Let a nurse know when she's awake, and I will be back. Okay?"

I nod in understanding and Dr. Shepherd soothingly rubs my arm as she walks away. "Are you ready to go in?" Flo asks. I grab her hand and nod, walking into the room. Pulling a chair up to the side of the bed, I sit down and grab Syd's hand, sniffling. Florence is still standing beside the chair, holding my other hand, so I pull her down to sit on my lap.

I rest my head against her shoulder. Our hands are still joined, resting in Flo's lap. "I can't believe this is happening," I mumble.

"I know it's hard, but we can do this. She's a fighter. And we'll keep her safe, okay?"

The words ring familiar in my mind and I chuckle lightly. "She's our little Satanist."

[lyranova]

Inspired by @koneko-pi ‘s Bulletpoints for her Medical AU! I decided to make some too because, this AU is just so much fun! Also has mentions of @thoughtfullyrainynightmare ‘s Solara!

• Zera is manager and only employee of the Gift Shop at the hospital.

• She is known for having all the tea in the hospital but will only share it with certain people.

• She’s also known for going around all the different hospital floors and giving the patients free flowers and gifts from the Gift Shop!

• Zera went to medical school with her friends Briar and Solara, but dropped out in her final year. It wasn’t that it was too difficult, it was just that she found a different way to help people heal and feel better that had nothing to do with medicine. But she still wanted to work in the hospital, so she applied to work in the gift shop, which she now manages!

• Zera tends to spend most of her time on the Pediatric, OBGYN, and ICU floors. But she has also been seen on the Neurology floor with Dr. William Vangeance!

• She’ll defend Dr. William Vangeance when she feels that he needs it or is being treated unfairly, but will also call him out when she believes he’s done something wrong.

• She tends to tease him whenever he’s on TV or is on posters or is in ads promoting the Hospital or the Neurology department. She finds it cute yet kind of silly!

• Zera has also noticed that William will spend a lot of time in her gift shop during his shift, which she claims annoys her, but when he doesn’t show up she begins to get a little worried.

• At one point William begins to worry that he’s creeping her out by always appearing in the shop a few times a day. So he decides to send his residents, interns, and other doctors to the Gift Shop and to report back to him how Zera is doing that day which…totally isn’t creepy at all *rolls eyes and shakes head*.

• Zera actually has a long history with the Hospital that she doesn’t tell many people.

• Her father was once a very well known Oncologist that specialized in Brain Tumors at the hospital, and her older brothers used to be doctors at the Hospital as well before they moved on.

• But he has since retired and not many people know of their connection, besides Fuegoleon and her friends!

• Shortly after William and Zera start dating, he, his interns and residents, and Zera’s friends begin to notice her showing up to work later than usual and she begins to complain of headaches. But whenever someone suggests she take the day off or have some tests done she refuses, saying that she’s fine.

• Until one day she just passes out while delivering flowers and gifts to patients and ends up in a coma.

• While William and her friends are beside themselves her father Rika shows up and drama would ensue between Rika and William because of Zera! They both think they know what’s best for her and how to treat her, and it’s just…a lot for everyone!

• Get the popcorn ready because it’ll be one heck of a show XD!