Brain Tumors

Brain tumor symptoms often depend on which part of the brain it affects. For example, a tumor on the optic nerve can lead to double vision or blurriness or a tumor in the cerebrum can cause numbness or weakness, especially on one side, or problems with balance or movement. A growth in the front part of the brain can cause problems with personality and language.

There are also a set of general symptoms of brain tumors that include:

• Seizures
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Drowsiness or coma
• Personality changes
• Just feeling off or not quite right

Because these are very general symptoms that can be caused by numerous other issues, they usually do not indicate brain cancer. However, you should see your doctor if these symptoms are unexplained, unusual and persist for a matter of weeks.

Surgery to remove brain tumors is most often the preferred treatment because it can lead to a total cure. Generally, slow-growing tumors closest to the surface of the brain are the best candidates for surgery.

For tumors that can't be removed surgically, there is a treatment called stereotactic radiosurgery that involves the use of precisely targeted radiation to destroy hard-to-reach tumors while leaving surrounding tissue intact.

Chemotherapy is often used in conjunction with surgery and radiation, though only certain chemotherapy medications can pass through the blood-brain barrier and reach brain tumors.

Our neurologists and neurosurgeons will work closely with our patients to determine the optimal treatment for a brain tumor.