It’s Here!
Dr. Cushing was born in Cleveland Ohio. The fourth generation in his family to become a physician, he showed great promise at Harvard Medical School and in his residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital (1896 to 1900), where he learned cerebral surgery under William S. Halsted
After studying a year in Europe, he introduced the blood pressure sphygmomanometer to the U.S.A. He began a surgical practice in Baltimore while teaching at Johns Hopkins Hospital (1901 to 1911), and gained a national reputation for operations such as the removal of brain tumors. From 1912 until 1932 he was a professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School and surgeon in chief at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, with time off during World War I to perform surgery for the U.S. forces in France; out of this experience came his major paper on wartime brain injuries (1918). In addition to his pioneering work in performing and teaching brain surgery, he was the reigning expert on the pituitary gland since his 1912 publication on the subject; later he discovered the condition of the pituitary now known as “Cushing’s disease“.
Today, April 8th, is Cushing’s Awareness Day. Please wear your Cushing’s ribbons, t-shirts, awareness bracelets or Cushing’s colors (blue and yellow) and hand out Robin’s wonderful Awareness Cards to get a discussion going with anyone who will listen.
And don’t just raise awareness on April 8. Any day is a good day to raise awareness.
I found this biography fascinating!
I found Dr. Cushing’s life to be most interesting. I had previously known of him mainly because his name is associated with a disease I had – Cushing’s. This book doesn’t talk nearly enough about how he came to discover the causes of Cushing’s disease, but I found it to be a valuable resource, anyway.
I was so surprised to learn of all the “firsts” Dr. Cushing brought to medicine and the improvements that came about because of him. Dr. Cushing introduced the blood pressure sphygmomanometer to America, and was a pioneer in the use of X-rays.
He even won a Pulitzer Prize. Not for medicine, but for writing the biography of another Doctor (Sir William Osler).
Before his day, nearly all brain tumor patients died. He was able to get the number down to only 5%, unheard of in the early 1900s.
This is a very good book to read if you want to learn more about this most interesting, influential and innovative brain surgeon.
What Would Harvey Say?
More than 80 years ago renowned neurosurgeon, Dr. Harvey Cushing, discovered a tumor on the pituitary gland as the cause of a serious, hormone disorder that leads to dramatic physical changes in the body in addition to life-threatening health concerns. The discovery was so profound it came to be known as Cushingâs disease. While much has been learned about Cushingâs disease since the 1930s, awareness of this rare pituitary condition is still low and people often struggle for years before finding the right diagnosis.
Read on to meet the man behind the discovery and get his perspective on the present state of Cushingâs disease.
* What would Harvey Cushing say about the time it takes for people with Cushingâs disease to receive an accurate diagnosis?
Cushingâs disease still takes too long to diagnose!
Despite advances in modern technology, the time to diagnosis for a person with Cushingâs disease is on average six years. This is partly due to the fact that symptoms, which may include facial rounding, thin skin and easy bruising, excess body and facial hair and central obesity, can be easily mistaken for other conditions. Further awareness of the disease is needed as early diagnosis has the potential to lead to a more favorable outcome for people with the condition.
* What would Harvey Cushing say about the advances made in how the disease is diagnosed?
Significant progress has been made as several options are now available for physicians to use in diagnosing Cushingâs disease.
In addition to routine blood work and urine testing, health care professionals are now also able to test for biochemical markers – molecules that are found in certain parts of the body including blood and urine and can help to identify the presence of a disease or condition.
* What would Harvey Cushing say about disease management for those with Cushingâs disease today?
Patients now have choices but more research is still needed.
There are a variety of disease management options for those living with Cushingâs disease today. The first line and most common management approach for Cushingâs disease is the surgical removal of the tumor. However, there are other management options, such as medication and radiation that may be considered for patients when surgery is not appropriate or effective.
* What would Harvey Cushing say about the importance of ongoing monitoring in patients with Cushingâs disease?
Routine check-ups and ongoing monitoring are key to successfully managing Cushingâs disease.
The same tests used in diagnosing Cushingâs disease, along with imaging tests and clinical suspicion, are used to assess patientsâ hormone levels and monitor for signs and symptoms of a relapse. Unfortunately, more than a third of patients experience a relapse in the condition so even patients who have been surgically treated require careful long-term follow up.
* What would Harvey Cushing say about Cushingâs disease patient care?
Cushingâs disease is complex and the best approach for patients is a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals working together guiding patient care.
Whereas years ago patients may have only worked with a neurosurgeon, today patients are typically treated by a variety of healthcare professionals including endocrinologists, neurologists, radiologists, mental health professionals and nurses. We are much more aware of the psychosocial impact of Cushingâs disease and patients now have access to mental health professionals, literature, patient advocacy groups and support groups to help them manage the emotional aspects of the disease.
Russell R. Lonser graduated with a B.A. in economics from Andrews University in 1990 and received his M.D. from Loma Linda University in 1994. He completed his neurosurgical training at the University of Utah in 2001. During his residency, he performed a 2-year research fellowship under the mentorship of Edward H. Oldfield, M.D., in the Surgical Neurology Branch at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Upon completion of his residency, he joined the staff of the Surgical Neurology Branch at the NIH. He was Chief of the Surgical Neurology Branch at NIH before becoming Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at Ohio State University in 2012. He holds the Dardinger Family Chair in Neurosurgical Oncology.
