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Road to Early Detection is the first-ever national campaign promoting early detection of brain tumors. Using a Mobile MRI Unit purchased through a grant from the New York City Council, BTF will make MRI brain scans available to everyone throughout New York City free of charge. With the success of the pilot program in New York, The Brain Tumor Foundation hopes to make affordable MRI brain scans available to cities and towns around the country.

The Problem

  • Every 20 minutes someone in the U.S. dies of a brain tumor
  • Nearly 1 million people in the U.S. are walking with a brain tumor and do not know it
  • 25,000 of them in New York City alone
  • People diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor have an 80% mortality rate within the first year of diagnosis
  • The incidence of brain tumors are rising, and no one knows why
  • By the time people present symptoms it is generally too late for effective treatment
  • Brain tumors are the #1 cancer killer of children and young adults under the age of 20
  • #2 cancer killer of males ages 20-39


The Solution

  • Early detection and complete removal is the best known method of treating brain tumors
  • The way to detect a brain tumor early is through an MRI brain scan
  • MRI brain scans are completely safe, painless, non-invasive, and emit no radiation


Implementation

  • The Brain Tumor Foundation is launching The Road to Early Detection campaign
  • New York City will be the first city ever to spearhead such an initiative
  • Road to Early Detection will offer free brain scans using a Mobile MRI Unit
  • Data gathered through this initiative will be analyzed by a prestigious research institution and presented at hearings in city, state and national arenas, including Capitol Hill