Brain Tumor Research Gets Boost From Bill

By Stephanie Lambert
Tallahassee Bureau

May 6, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - Two Palm Beach County legislators have gotten the Florida Legislature to pass a bill that would launch an effort among state universities, hospitals and biomedical industries to research brain tumor treatments and cures.

The companion bills from Rep. Anne Gannon, D-Delray Beach (HB 1449), and Sen. Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach (SB 2566), were passed unanimously by the House and Senate Thursday and will take effect July 1 if signed by Gov. Jeb Bush.

Gannon lost her husband in 2005 to a brain tumor.

"My husband died of a brain tumor about a year and a half ago, and what we found, and a number of others who have had family members or spouses die of brain tumors, is there is really no central treatment," Gannon said.

"Treatment that is innovating, you have to really go out the state for." The bills would establish the Florida Tumor Center for Brain Research within the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Florida.

The center would provide a location for brain tumor biopsies, monitor the improvement of brain medical research, facilitate funding opportunities and foster improved technology transfers of brain tumor research.

"We are trying to find a location where the very best scientists in the world can continue their research to see what are the connecting pieces." Atwater said.

"The initial funding would be $500,000 to begin to create the repository for the collection of tissue in biopsies," Atwater said.

"That is where we will begin, but I think as the years advance, as additional dollars are required, additional dollars would be allocated to support the good work."

Each year, approximately 190,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with brain tumors, which currently have no known cause or cure. Sheryl R. Shetsky was one of those people 16 years ago.

"I was almost 32 when I had my first surgery," said Shetsky, a Boca Raton resident.

Now 49 years old, Shetsky has a positive outlook on life.

"It changed my life completely and in every aspect," said Shetsky, who established the Florida Brain Tumor Association in 1990 to raise awareness.

"I'm not complaining, because it could be worse. None of the doctors thought I'd see one gray hair."

Stephanie Lambert can be reached at srlambert@sun-sentinel.com or 850-224-6214.

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