Neuro-Oncology Program

More than 20,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with cancers arising in brain or spinal cord this year, reports the American Cancer Society.

The Neuro-Oncology Program at the San Diego Cancer Center includes a group of health care professionals from multiple disciplines committed to providing the best available comprehensive and individualized care to the population of North County San Diego suffering from brain cancer, tumors affecting the nervous system, or afflicted by neurological complications of systemic cancer. The group strives to serve as an educational resource for patients, providers, and the community, while developing and conducting state of the art research according to the highest ethical standards.

The Neuro-Oncology Program provides comprehensive and individualized care to patients suffering from tumors affecting the nervous system or afflicted by neurological complications of systemic cancer. We Partner with many other specialties to form a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of Central Nervous System Cancers. This team involves members from specialties including Neuro-oncology, Radiation Oncology, Neurosurgery, Neuroradiology, NeuroPathology, Palliative Care, Nursing, and Social Work.

Symptoms and Signs

The symptoms of brain cancer differ for each section of the brain, depending on what part of the body or what organs that section of the brain controls. Additionally, symptoms can differ from person to person. However, several symptoms are typically universal for brain cancer, including:

• headache
  
  
• vomiting (usually in the morning)
  
  
• nausea
  
  
• personality changes
  
  
• irritability
  
  
• drowsiness
  
  
• depression
  
  
• decreased cardiac and respiratory function and, eventually, coma if not treated Other symptoms may include:
  
  
• seizures
  
  
• visual changes
  
  
• slurred speech
  
  
• uncoordinated muscle movements
  
  
• problems walking (ataxia)
  
  
• paralysis of nerves/muscles of the face, or half of the body
  
  
• respiratory changese
  
  

Diagnosis and Treatment

There are many types of brain tumors. They are usually categorized by the type of cell where the tumor begins, or by the area of the brain where they occur. The most common types of brain tumors include the following:

• Gliomas
  
  
  • Astrocytomas
    
    
  • Brain stem gliomas
    
    
  • Ependymomas
    
    
  • Optic nerve gliomas
    
    
  • Oligodendrogliomas
    
    
• Metastatic tumors
  
  
• Meningiomas
  
  
• Schwannomas
  
  
• Pituitary tumors
  
  
• Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET)
  
  
• Medulloblastomas
  
  
• Craniopharyngioma
  
  
• Pineal region tumors
  
  

Treatment for brain tumors will be determined by your physician based on:

• your age, overall health, and medical history
  
  
• type, location, and size of the tumor
  
  
• extent of the condition
  
  
• your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
  
  
• expectations for the course of the condition
  
  
• your opinion or preference
  
  

Because there are various types of brain tumors, specific types may require varied methods of treatment, including:

• surgery
  
  
• chemotherapy
  
  
• radiation therapy
  
  
• steroids (to treat and prevent swelling especially in the brain)
  
  
• anti-seizure medication (to treat and prevent seizures associated with intracranial pressure)
  
  
• placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (Also called a VP shunt.)
  
  
• lumbar puncture/spinal tap
  
  
• bone marrow transplantation
  
  
• supportive care
  
  
• rehabilitation
  
  
• antibiotics
  
  
• continuous follow-up care