Reid C. Thompson, M.D.
Director of the Vanderbilt Brain Tumor Center

January 20, 2009
Seizures and Brain Cancer
August  22, 2008
Cell Phones & Brain Tumors: Should You Worry?

More information on Dr. Reid Thompson here

Email your questions to: patientpower@vanderbilt.edu

About the Webcasts

Seizures and Brain Cancer
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As most everyone knows, Ted Kennedy, who has been battling brain cancer, suffered a seizure at Barack Obama's luncheon following his inauguration. When the news hit, Patient Power producers searched out an expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, a sponsor of Patient Power, to find out more. Dr. Reid Thompson, Director of the Vanderbilt Brain Tumor Center and Vice Chairman of Neurological Surgery, took time out of his busy day to chat with Andrew about the connection between seizures and brain cancer.

Dr. Thompson explains why those with brain cancer would experience a seizure and what that could mean for the tumor. He talks about the different types of seizures and the various effects these episodes can have on the body. In this brief interview, Dr. Thompson highlights details of dealing with brain cancer and praises Senator Kennedy's actions by going about his daily life and returning to the Senate. To quote Dr. Thompson, "You can have good quality of life with a diagnosis of a brain cancer, and I think he's proving that."

Cell Phones & Brain Tumors: Should You Worry?
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Increasingly, cell phones and brain tumors have been ending up in the same sentence together. Is there a connection? Should we be concerned? There has been much speculation by members in the cancer community for some time, though research has not provided any evidence to support these claims. On this special Patient Power program, host Andrew Schorr is joined by Dr. Reid C. Thompson, director of the Vanderbilt Brain Tumor Center and associate professor of Neurological Surgery, to discuss the theories and science behind the cell phone brain cancer controversy.

Ezra Fitz, who also joins the show, was in his 20s when he suffered an unexpected seizure. Physicians at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center soon found the cause – a malignant brain tumor. During this Patient Power program, Mr. Fitz shares his story and acknowledges the questions he and his family had about the possibility of a cell phone link. Ezra discusses the cutting-edge brain surgery, an awake craniotomy, he received, and why the location of his tumor required this type of surgery.

Dr. Thompson then goes on to discuss the latest in brain cancer research. He addresses questions sparked by a recent memo from the director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute warning his staff to curtail their use of cell phones because of potential health risks. People have many questions, but the big one is: Are there particular risk factors, whether environmental or genetic, we should be aware of? Dr. Thompson details the results of several current studies. He explains the difference between non-ionizing radiation and ionizing radiation and gives listeners an idea about where the current fears come from.

If you have questions about different treatment options for brain tumors and the most current research, this Patient Power program is not to be missed.