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Specialists Target Aggressive Form Of Brain Cancer

KENDALL, Fla. – Since she was a little girl, Sabrina Jimenez has been captivated by dancing.

"I've been dancing since I was two and a half years old and I've danced competitively since I was four," she said.

But her life took an unexpected 'twist' off stage in March of 2019 when Jimenez was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma brain cancer.

"I honestly had no idea what it was," Jimenez said.

Dr. Matthew Hall, Lead Pediatric Radiation Oncologist for Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute, explained.

"Medulloblastoma is an aggressive brain tumor that begins at the bottom of the brain, kind of right behind the eyes," he said.

Hall said the fast growing tumor can spread to other areas of the brain.

"It is the second most common pediatric brain tumor it occurs in about 350 children per year and about 150 to 200 young adults per year," he said.

Symptoms include nausea and vomiting, tiredness, balance problems, changes in vision, difficulty walking, back pain and urinary or bowel incontinence.

Hall said the upfront treatment approach is surgery, chemotherapy and radiation but the type of radiation is important.

Miami Cancer Institute is one of 42 centers in the country offering a targeted approach called proton therapy.

"It is different from regular radiation by the fact that it gives significantly less radiation dose to the tissues the areas that don't need radiation," Hall said.

And that reduces the chances of long term problems.

"Such as to memory, cognition, hormones and a number of others that brain tumor patients face," Hall said.

Jimenez is approaching four years in remission and is now planning what she hopes will be a vibrant future in the medical profession.

"I want to be a pediatric oncologist so I can tell the kids 'hey look, I went through this, so I can help you, I can answer your questions'", she said.

The exact cause of Medulloblastoma is unknown but certain genetic conditions, including BRCA1 gene mutations, could increase the risk of this type of brain cancer.

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Best Arthritis Creams Of 2024

Before buying an arthritis cream, consult a health care professional, such as a rheumatologist or physical therapist, for expert guidance to determine whether using one of these products is safe for you—especially if you have vascular issues, asthma, allergies, skin disorders or if you take oral NSAIDs. You may also need to try different types of creams to find the one that works best for your needs.

Consider the following factors when beginning your search:

Active Ingredients

When choosing which cream works best for you, consider its listed active ingredients and how they might interact with your health needs and history. Common active ingredients in arthritis creams include:

Salicylates are used to treat inflammation and pain that occur with osteoarthritis. Aspirin is a commonly known salicylate. While most salicylates can be obtained over the counter, some require prescription.

NSAIDs are common pain relievers often used to treat arthritis. These can be used topically, or taken in oral form, though topical application via creams has been noted to cause less side effects. A commonly known oral, over-the-counter NSAID is ibuprofen. Side effects of oral NSAIDS can include headaches, dizziness, indigestion, stomach ulcers and allergic reactions. In some cases, kidney problems and risk of heart attack and/or stroke can occur.

Anesthetics or analgesics, such as lidocaine, cause a numbing sensation by reducing nerve pain. Lidocaine does not decrease inflammation. It can be administered through a cream or patch and is available over-the-counter at 4% strength. Increased strength will require a prescription. Lidocaine is regarded to be safe, but can cause side effects, such as low blood pressure, drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, changes in vision and/or taste, flushed skin and ringing in ears.

Counterirritants like camphor, menthol or aloe cause a cooling or warming or cooling sensation on the skin to provide pain relief. These ingredients are known to have little side effects, but their relief may dissipate once the cooling sensation has faded.

Capsaicin, the active ingredient found in chili peppers, has the opposite effect of counterirritants and offers a mild, tingling sensation when applied topically. This can help tamp down nerve pain. Arthritis creams containing this ingredient can cause a burning sensation on your skin, but this has been known to lessen after consistent daily use. Do not use capsaicin on broken skin and be sure to thoroughly wash hands after use and before touching your eyes.

Before choosing an arthritis cream, consult with your health care provider to determine which active ingredients might be right for you.

Type

As arthritis creams come in many forms, it's important to find the type that will work best for your needs. If you want a product that requires thorough rubbing or massaging into the skin, opt for a cream, gel, salve, balm or ointment. Alternatively, arthritis sprays and roll-on products don't require much if any massaging and carry the benefit of little mess. Patches that release pain-relieving medication also offer an on-the-go option.

Generally, topical arthritis creams are considered to be safe, effective and have less side effects than oral medication options.

Budget

While arthritis creams aren't exactly a "break the bank" purchase, there is a broad price range that can fit any budget. Of the products we reviewed for this piece, price points range from about $6 up to nearly $100 depending on the brand, size and type of arthritis cream you opt for.

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