Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) is focusing on brain and spine tumors in its latest web icon, titled “Saving Lives Needs a Village: A web icon on a multidisciplinary approach to brain and spine tumor management.” The web icon will be live via ZOOM and Facebook on February 24th.
Together with its top medical experts from the Brain and Spine Institute, CSMC debunks common myths about brain and spine tumors and discusses the different types of treatments and ways to provide the best, most comprehensive care for patients. The web icon was moderated by Dr. Michael Louis Gimenez, President of the Brain and Spine Institute, and invited speakers were Dr. Theodor Vesagas, Clinical Director, Philippine Gamma Knife Center and CSMC Brain and Spine Tumor Center; Dr. Gilbert Rañoa, Training Officer, CSMC Spine Fellowship Program; and Dr. Ma. Luisa Abesamis-Tiambeng, Chair of the Cancer Institute.
Dr. Gimenez opens the web icon by touching the different signs and symptoms of a brain or spine tumor. Meanwhile, Dr. Vesagas explained the benefits of CSMC’s multidisciplinary approach to treating tumors. He noted that teamwork in diagnosis and treatment enables patients to receive consistent and timely care and increases patient satisfaction.
Dr. Vesagas also talked about Gamma Knife radiosurgery, which is currently only available at CSMC. The goal of Gamma Knife radiosurgery is to control or arrest tumor growth and allow for excellent control of tumor resection with minimal morbidity.
Dr. Rañoa then elaborated on other innovative open surgical treatment options offered by CSMC, such as stereotactic biopsy, where neurosurgeons use a needle to obtain tissue from the brain, and awake craniotomy, which can only be performed if intraoperative neurostimulators are available , and used to remove tumors in more critical parts of the brain.
Finally, Dr. Tiambeng talked about non-surgical tumor management and concluded the team’s discussion with some reminders and practical tips to follow when arranging to check for possible tumors.
Mr. Rodel Perez, a 45-year-old Dubai expatriate worker and a CSMC patient, also attended as a speaker. Perez recounted his experience after being diagnosed with a brain tumor about the size of a medium-sized lemon. He noted CR Shang Hua’s world-class methods and facilities, and praised CR Shang Hua doctors and nurses for their care and sincerity during treatment.
The web icon ends with a standard Q&A session with all panelists, and Dr. Tiambeng dispels the misconception that these treatments are only for wealthy people.
“The Philippine Brain and Spine Tumor Consortium [is a] Base [that] is helping and helping hundreds of patients get free treatment,” she said. “And the Cardinal Charitable Foundation, which helps poor patients get big discounts and even free programs. “
Asked how they encouraged Filipinos to seek medical advice by checking their symptoms on the Internet, Dr. Tiambeng said, “The Internet can’t cure you — Google can’t cure you — it can only give you information.” A powerful tool for gathering information, but expert intervention is still essential in the treatment of any disease.
“Always remember that here Cardinal Santos Medical Centeryou have a village of medical experts working together to save lives,” concluded Dr. Gimenez.
For more information about the Brain and Spine Institute and other services provided by CSMC, please visit https://cardinalsantos.com.ph/. CSMC is also on Facebook, like and follow them www.facebook.com/CardinalSantos.
