The International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA, https://theibta.org/)is a UK-based global organization for brain tumor patients, their families and relevant parties. I hadn't known about the group until I had a brain tumor last year. In Japan, there is also a loosely affiliated organization, "NPO Brain Tumor Network" (https://www.jbta.org/index.html), which holds open seminars, and pushes its agendas to Japanese government. Such the pushes sometimes have made their fruits to take shape in a new development of a new cancer drug. 

The week of October 30 - November 6 was an "Enlightenment Week" advocated by IBTA (#IBTAWeek), namely "International Brain Tumour Awareness Week". The week has come to me with JBTA posting every day the illustrations and slogans on SNS such as Facebook. For this issuance of the blog series, "Toast to Life", I would like to introduce the JBTA's postings with the permission of them: I want to expand the level of awareness of each of readers enough to get armed more of the knowledges, and how hard you and your family should be down the road. 

The illustration above is "Brain tumours attack the very essence of who we are, our thoughts, our emotions, our behavior, our personality". It's the phrase that most resonates me who experienced aphasia leading from the tumors.

"'All brain tumours count.' Low grade tumours aren't classified as cancer but still cause hight morbidity and loss of life".

Next is below. "Only about 5% of brain tumours can be linked to hereditary factors. The causes of most malignant brain tumours are unknown". 

"'More research is desperately needed.' >Basic + translational science + clinical trials = better treatments + outcomes" is next.

The last is a phrase for the family living together with the patient(s). "'Let's not forget the caregivers.' Caregiver burden in brain cancer is among the highest of all cancers". Thinking of my family members, and remembering what they have done to me, the words here makes me heart-breaking. As side note is, however, it may not be difficult for anyone to measure whether the family with a brain tumor patient is running the most painful life time among all the other diseases.

(To be continued.)