Brain and Spinal Cancer

Brain and Spinal Cancer Care With Your Whole Health in Mind

A brain and spinal cancer diagnosis can shake the foundation of your life, and we’re here to help you get back on solid ground. Our neuro-oncology experts are forging ahead, testing new therapies and achieving incredible outcomes for patients as they journey toward remission. Across our nationwide network, we’re delivering whole-person, innovative care so that patients like you can pursue true healing — in body, mind and spirit.

Pursuing Exceptional Outcomes

We deliver the best possible outcomes by maintaining the highest quality and safety standards in neurosurgery — and surrounding you with support. From therapeutic programs that supplement your treatment to nutritional guidance and beyond, we’re focused on healing your body, mind and spirit.
Personalized Guidance

You’ll always feel empowered and prepared. Day after day, our compassionate and knowledgeable team members will coordinate your appointments, talk you through every treatment option and more. We’ll make sure you’re always supported.
Advanced Technology

From powerful imaging capabilities to leading-edge treatments, many of our institute locations across the country are home to some of the most advanced technologies available to detect and treat brain and spine cancer.

Navigating a brain and spinal cancer diagnosis or condition can feel overwhelming, and you’re not alone. No matter your unique diagnosis, our oncologists are well-versed in treating these conditions, so you can rest assured you’re in good hands.

As you begin your treatment journey, it’s important to know that because no two cancer diagnoses are the same, your oncology team will personalize your course of treatment strategically, prescribing individual therapies as needed. Depending on your diagnosis, your treatment plan may include some, none or a combination of the therapies below.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy Treatment: What To Expect
Nothing matters more to us than getting you well and getting you home. Depending on what type of brain or spinal cancer you have and how advanced it is, chemotherapy may play an essential role in successfully treating your cancer, including adult brain tumors, astrocytic tumors, ependymal tumors and spinal cord tumors. From the moment you arrive for your chemo treatment, one of our nurses will be there to greet you and guide you, keeping you and your loved one informed, comfortable and in good spirits throughout your visit.

How Does Chemotherapy Work?
Using a combination of specialized drugs, chemotherapy has the power to destroy or slow down the growth of fast-growing cancer cells in every part of your body. It can be administered intravenously, by injection or orally.
At AdventHealth Cancer Institute, our oncology experts take an individualized approach to your chemotherapy treatment. Depending on your type of brain or spine cancer, we’ll determine which drug or combination of drugs is best for you. While chemotherapy isn’t usually used as a primary treatment for brain tumors, it can be very effective as a follow-up to surgery or radiation therapy. It may also be effective for patients with recurrent or slowly progressing tumors.
Chemotherapy may be used in combination with surgery and/or radiation therapy. Along the way, we're here to help however we can, answering any questions and helping you stay strong and optimistic before, during and after your treatment.

Learn More About Chemotherapy Treatment

American Brain Tumor Association
Radiation: Radiation Therapy: What To Expect
While radiation therapy is one of the most common treatments for brain and spine cancer, at AdventHealth Cancer Institute, we do it with uncommon expertise, guidance and compassion. Using some of the most sophisticated radiation technology, like the Gamma Knife, we can target tumors in and around your brain and spine with amazing precision, easing your pain and leaving healthy tissue untouched. Depending on your diagnosis, your team may recommend radiation alone, or in some cases, combine it with surgery and chemotherapy.
How Does Radiation Therapy Work?
Radiation therapy targets specific areas of the body, shrinking tumors and eliminating cancer cells by damaging their DNA.
When treating brain tumors, our radiology team may recommend Gamma Knife radiosurgery, the most technologically advanced, non-invasive procedure that’s not offered at any other hospital in Central Florida. Using this innovative method, we can precisely target the tumor, deliver tumor-shrinking treatment, and have you home all on the same day.
For spinal tumors that have metastasized, your team can use radiation therapy in two ways:

External radiation, which delivers radiation in a concentrated beam to keep nearby healthy tissue unaffected
Internal radiation guided by ultrasound keeps healthy nearby tissue safer
Throughout your treatment, your nurses and your radiation oncology care team are there to keep you and your support system informed, comfortable and uplifted.

Learn More About Radiation Therapy

American Brain Tumor Association
Surgery: Surgery: What To Expect
If surgery is part of your treatment plan, rest assured that your health is in the hands of recognized leaders in brain and spine cancer care. Specialized brain and spine surgeons across our network help patients heal every single day through innovative surgical procedures.
Options for Surgery
Surgery can be a promising step forward on your path to healing, and it’s often the preferred course of treatment, depending on your diagnosis. Your dedicated team of brain and spine cancer specialists will review every detail of your medical history and recent tests to recommend the most effective treatment plan for you. For benign tumors, surgery will likely be the only treatment you need, but in the case of malignant tumors, your team may recommend pairing a surgical procedure with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.
Some brain cancer surgeries include:
Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery
This is the best option for fast healing times and precise treatments. We have a number of 3D imaging tools and microscopes for the clearest visuals and best results.
Skull Base Surgery
Skull base surgery works to carefully remove complex tumors with open surgery or specialized, minimally invasive tools.
Debulking
Debulking is a strategy to remove only part of the tumors and reduce the size, making sure to leave the surrounding tissue untouched.
In the past, tumors in the spine were considered untreatable. Today, using innovative new techniques and tools like high-powered microscopes and imaging, our neurosurgeons can access difficult-to-reach tumors with skillful precision, all while leaving healthy tissue as undisturbed as possible.

Learn More About Oncology Surgery

American Brain Tumor Association

We take a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to your cancer care, which means different types of specialists work together as a team to determine the most personalized and effective treatment plan for you.

Guilherme Agnoletto, MD

Neurosurgery
Travis Dailey, MD

Neurological Surgery
Gabriel Gonzales-Portillo, MD, FAANS, FACS

Neurosurgery
Saravanan Karuppiah, MD, FRCS, FAANS

Neurological Surgery, Neurosurgery, Spine Surgery
Imran Mohiuddin, MD, PhD

Radiation Oncology
T. Adam Oliver, MD, FAANS

Neurosurgery
Raul Olivera, MD, FAANS

Neurological Surgery
Racheal Peterson, MD

Neurosurgery
Jayson Sack, MD, FAANS

Neurological Surgery
Ivo W. Tremont, MD, FEBN, FAAN

Neuro-Oncology
Rohit Vasan, MD

Neurosurgery

We understand you may have many questions about your neurological health. Our board-certified physicians and expert care teams are here to help. Find answers to commonly asked questions about brain and spinal cancer below.

Question: Is a brain or spinal tumor always cancer?

Answer:

No, brain or spinal tumors are not always cancerous. While all brain and spinal tumors are abnormal cell growths, they can also be noncancerous (benign). Noncancerous brain or spinal tumors grow slowly over time and begin to press into nearby surfaces without spreading to other parts of the body. Most of the time, brain and spinal tumors are not life-threatening.
Question: What are the first signs and symptoms of brain or spinal cancer?
Answer:
It's important to know that the symptoms of brain or spinal tumors are similar to those of brain or spinal cancer. However, there’s one key differentiator: the rate of symptom progression. The first signs and symptoms of brain cancer include:
Changes in personality or behavior
Confusion
Difficulty speaking and thinking
Drowsiness
Headaches
Memory loss
Nausea or vomiting
Seizures
Sensory changes, like vision and smell
Weakness in one part or side of the body

Symptoms of spinal cancer include:
Bladder or bowel incontinence
Difficulty walking
Numbness in the legs, arms or chest
Paralysis
Scoliosis
Sciatica
Question: What causes brain and spinal cancer, and who is at risk?
Answer:
While the exact cause of brain and spinal cancer is unknown, certain factors may put you at a greater risk of developing it, including radiation exposure, inherited gene mutations and a weakened immune system.

Those who are at a greater risk of developing brain and spinal cancer include:
Obese individuals
Older adults
Those whose occupation requires repeated contact with ionizing radiation or certain chemicals
White men
Question: How is brain or spinal cancer diagnosed?

Answer:

Brain cancer can be diagnosed in several ways, including a physical exam with a detailed nervous system test, imaging tests like MRIs, CT scans and PET scans, brain tumor biopsies, blood and urine tests and a lumbar puncture, which looks for cancer cells in the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spine.
When it comes to diagnosing spinal cancer, MRIs are the most reliable and often preferred method. Other ways to diagnose spinal cancer include a lumbar puncture, blood tests, CT scans, spinal tumor biopsies and bone scans.
Question: What tests are used to stage or classify brain and spinal tumors?

Answer:

To stage and diagnose brain and spinal tumors, your doctor will use a combination of diagnostic imaging through an MRI with contrast, followed by a tissue biopsy to further determine the stage. Other tests that can be used to stage or classify brain and spinal tumors include CT scans, angiograms, myelograms and neurological exams.
The contrast agent used during your MRI, typically gadolinium, temporarily alters the magnetic properties of water molecules in your body, making specific tissues appear brighter and clearer on images. This allows tumors, inflammation and unhealthy blood vessels to be more easily seen, leading to a more accurate diagnosis.
Question: What are the treatment options for brain and spinal cancer?
Answer:
There are several treatments for brain and spinal cancer, including:
Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy
Surgery
Targeted drugs therapy
Tumor treating fields (TTF) therapy
However, it’s important to know that the type of treatment you receive depends on several factors, including the type of tumor you have, its size and location, whether it has grown into nearby structures and your overall health and age. Our expert oncologists will work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team of specialists to determine the best treatment option for you.

When you’re facing a brain or spinal cancer diagnosis, you don’t have to go far for compassionate, expert care. Find the strength and support you need at our AdventHealth Cancer Institute. We offer specialized treatments for common and complex brain tumors and spinal cancers — all coordinated through a trusted national network. Explore our locations or ask your dedicated Cancer Care Navigator to help you find the best place for the care you need.

Brain and Spinal Cancer