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From left to right: Mike Saperstein, Rachel Kachnycz, Marnie Passaretti, Mark Kutner, and Dr. Steven Brem (moderator)

The brain drives everything we do and powers our emotional connection to the world, making a brain tumor diagnosis particularly harrowing with the potential to be incredibly isolating.

The Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania held its 3rd annual Focus on Brain Cancer Conference – and for many attendees, the need to be surrounded by the brain cancer community was the event’s greatest draw.

“My experiences with my support group, many of whom are here today, taught me to gather strength and hope from those around me,” said Lindsay Leiper, III, who is a six year survivor of a grade 4 glioblastoma. “I came today, on my birthday, to celebrate another year of life with my fellow survivors – and the men and women who saved me.”

Linsday Leiper listens on as fellow brain tumor survivors tell their stories

The Abramson Cancer Center's Focus On Cancer conference series is made possible through philanthropic and grant support as well as partnerships with advocacy and outreach organizations. The conferences are free and open to cancer patients and survivors as well as their family members and health care providers. The day provides patients with important and timely information from Penn Medicine’s expert faculty so they can to better advocate for their health.

The topics presented by members of our esteemed faculty included Penn’s new Center for Personalized Diagnostics, advancements in surgery of skull base tumors, promising clinical trials, and Penn’s extensive radiation therapies available through the department of radiation oncology and Roberts Proton Therapy Center. Penn Medicine’s promising advances in brain mapping and imaging was also a focus.

“Our 3D approach to tumor imaging informs neurosurgeons in ways never before possible, making the invisible, visible and giving them the power to map the safest surgery plan and increase positive surgical outcomes,” said Steven Brem, MD, director of neurosurgical oncology at Penn Medicine.

From left to right:  Rachel Kachnycz, Bill Staley, and Pam Staley

Bill Staley is a patient who knows the Roberts Proton Therapy cyclotron intimately. He didn’t just receive treatment from it, his company helped install it. A self-proclaimed "bad patient," Bill found it hard at first to accept help while sick. “However,” he said, “the treatment I received— from my doctors to the social workers to my fellow patients in my support group— taught me that I never knew how good care could be until I came to Penn Medicine.”

A highlight of the afternoon was the “Two for the Road—the Doctor Patient Journey” panel where patients shared important insights about what they have learned from their cancer journey.

It was during this panel that some of the most poignant and sage advice was delivered – by 24 year-old Rachel Kachnycz. “I am moving on as a survivor and giving myself the time and space to re-enter the world,” she said. “I am learning to be kind to my body and patient with myself. Cancer does not have to be your life— it can be a moment that you teach yourself to move on.”

She went on to say, “I know I speak for all of us here today when I say we plan to be the minority. We plan to survive.”

These conferences are made possible through philanthropic support. Help patients and families empower themselves with knowledge and support to battle cancer by making a gift today.

Support the Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine here.