Resident launches unique site for networking, support

Edison’s Beth Rosenthal, as a child, has the support of her mom Judith and some dolls during her first hospital stay at New York University. EDISON — Support, comfort and knowing someone cares.

Those were the types of things Beth Rosenthal, 37, remembers needing most when she was diagnosed with childhood cerebellar astrocytoma, a disease in which benign or malignant cells form in the tissues of the brain. She was diagnosed at the age of 11 in January 1986. Her brain tumor was found to be benign.

This inspired Rosenthal to launch her nonprofit organization It’s Just Benign two years ago. Her website, Itsjustbenign. org, offers a social networking community that has already connected more than 375 survivors from all over the world, including South Africa, the U.K., Canada and all across in the United States.

“It really opened my eyes,” she said. “I realized that I was not alone.”

Rosenthal said the website’s mission is to provide information, support and a means of communication for those diagnosed with benign brain tumors.

“It makes you feel more normal when you connect with someone,” she said. “Not only can you connect with other members, there are forums and blogs where people can find support and information.”

Rosenthal’s organization also coordinates online and in-person support groups.

Topics discussed on her website include finding a good neurosurgeon; weaning off medications; pregnancy and adoption; and dating and other social situations.

Rosenthal said she contacted many doctors in the area and received interest from Dr. Shabbar Danish, who specializes in neurosurgery and spinal surgery at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

“He contacted me right away and has been really nice offering his services for my site, and he hasn’t asked for a penny,” she said.

Rosenthal said her childhood was filled with many doctor visits and hospital stays.

Her diagnosis was later changed to childhood brain stem glioma. According to the National Cancer Institute, this is when tumors arise along the structures of the brain stem, which is the part of the brain that controls breathing, heart rate, and nerves and muscles used in seeing, hearing, walking, talking and eating.

When she was 16, Rosenthal was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia, a chronic pain condition that causes extreme, sporadic burning or shock-like face pain that lasts

anywhere from a few seconds to as long as two minutes per episode. The intensity of the pain can by physically and mentally incapacitating and is typically felt on one side of the jaw or cheek.

Because her conditions made her feel isolated when she was younger, Rosenthal said she wanted to do something to help others.

“I would like to go into the hospitals and give support to the children, to show that they are not alone,” she said. “I really did not know who to talk to when I was younger … I did have the support of my mom, but this way these children will have somebody who has gone through and is going through the same thing.”

Rosenthal said she hopes to network with more doctors and receive sponsors for her website. All donations are tax deductible and will be used to maintain the site and to help with quality-of-life issues that survivors may have.

It’s Just Benign has also introduced a line of T-shirts, and Rosenthal said those who make a donation before Jan. 1 will receive one for free.

“The T-shirts are another way to get people talking about benign brain tumors,” she said. “Not everyone will ask and just assume that all tumors are the same. Even though a tumor is benign, there are side effects that can become permanent.”

For more information on ways to support Itsjustbenign.org, contact Beth Rosenthal at beth.f.rosenthal@gmail.com.