May is National Brain Tumor Awareness Month, 24,000 Malignant Tumors Diagnosed in U.S. During 2023

Approximately 24,000 malignant tumors diagnosed in 2023 in U.S.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – When is enough, enough? When can we do something about brain tumors and brain cancer? It can be so frustrating. We have lost way too many people, young and old, to brain cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society approximately 24,000 malignant tumors were diagnosed in 2023 in the United States. They stated, “These numbers would be much higher if benign tumors were included.”

In 1952, there were 20,000 cases of polio in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); yet, there have been no new cases of polio in the U.S. since 1979. Why? Because a vaccine was created in the mid-twentieth century.

I am not saying we should have a “brain cancer vaccine,” although that would be nice, but there must be something more that we, as a society, can do.

The month of May is National Brain Tumor Awareness Month. There is a difference in brain tumors and brain cancer. All brain cancers are tumors, but all tumors are not cancerous, some are benign.

Brain tumors and brain cancer can strike anyone at any time. Case in point, 9-year-old Vivian Sleeth, from Rockledge, has been battling diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) for more than a year. There is no current cure for DIPG.

Vivian’s mom, Brittany Sleeth, is having to face something that no parent should. I recently had the opportunity to talk with Brittany, and she told me that she is trying to give Viv, “all the experiences I can, and to try and live the fullest life she can.” Brittany talked about her hope of there one day being a cure for DIPG. At the present, she just wants Viv to be “happy, without pain and enjoying life.”

It is not just children battling this dreadful disease. Erin Akins, the president, and CEO of the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce lost her mom, Cheri O’Brien, to brain cancer in 2009 at the age of 52.

I asked Akins to share her thoughts of her mother’s passing. She told me, “Brain Cancer Awareness month holds a special place in my heart after the loss of my mother Cheri O’Brien in 2009. Our family will be forever grateful to Dr. Aker for finding her tumor through an eye exam, the team at Parrish Medical Center emergency room for their extreme care and diligence in scanning, and MD Anderson for the care and treatment that allowed us to have her with us for two years following diagnosis. In May, we wear grey proudly in honor of not only my mother but everyone whom has lost their battle with Brain Cancer.”

Vivian Sleeth and Cheri O’Brien, two people that could not have been more different, yet share a common bond. Brain cancer does not discriminate.

I am old enough to remember when President John Kennedy made his famous speech about putting a man on the moon, and returning him safely, before the end of the decade. We, as Americans, made that happen. I would love to hear our president say that we will end brain tumors/cancers by the end of the decade.

If we can put a man on the moon in the 1960s, there is nothing we can’t do in the 2020s.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia.  He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.

Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018,  Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey.

Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.

He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 24 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.

The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.

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