 December 11, 2001 |
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Brain Tumor Survival Guide6. Get an educationInformation; some good, some badHaving the diagnosis of a brain tumor is like suddenly parachuting into a foreign country. You know neither the language nor the geography. You can try to learn both very quickly. The problem is that with a brain tumor, you really don't have the time to learn the language and the lay of the land - at least not well enough to do you much good. With the internet, it has become easier to get an education than ever before. But how will you separate truth from simple marketing? Marketing by physicians and respected medical centers? Yes! Have you been listening to the radio lately? Some of the promotions for medical centers are outrageous! With managed care and cutbacks in Medicare, medical incomes have plummeted. Costs have increased with inflation, technology and malpractice premiums. Doctors and hospitals are in fierce competition with each other. In desperation they have turned to marketing; advertising their services. The internet is good inexpensive advertising - it costs close to nothing to create a web page. And you can say whatever you like to draw in the patients which mean income. Patients with brain tumors, cardiac problems and cancer are prime targets for these marketing efforts. How will you separate good information from bad? Unless you are a health care professional in the field of brain tumors, this will be difficult. Nonetheless, always consider the source. Respected academic medical centers (Harvard, NYU), the government (NIH, NCI), various brain tumor foundations (American Brain Tumor Association, the Brain Tumor Society and this one), and private sites will have information which will get you started on a "crash course" in brain tumors. Back |
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| The Brain Tumor Foundation • 1350 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1200, New York, NY 10019 E-Mail: info@braintumorfoundation.org • Phone: 212.489.0600 • Fax: 212.489.0203 |
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