Brain and spine cancer

Brain and spinal cord cancers are often diagnosed with imaging scans, such as MRI, CT and SPECT. Your doctor may also use other tests to identify the problem. If you’re diagnosed with cancer, you’ll have more advanced investigations so we can find out more about your cancer, where it’s located and which treatments are likely to be most effective. Some of these tests are also used to assess how well your treatment is working.

Find your nearest SunState Medical Specialists center to find out what diagnostic tests and scans are available in your local area. Whatever your outcome, our expert team will support you throughout your treatment journey.

We work with expert teams of surgeons who are specially trained in surgical removal of benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) tumors of the brain and spinal cord.

In most cases, surgical removal of the tumor can slow growth and control the disease. There are different surgical techniques that may be used to treat cancer in the brain or spinal cord, including removing the entire tumor, or partial excision before treating the remainder with radiation or chemotherapy.

The most common procedure for cancers in the brain and spinal cord is a craniotomy, where a surgical incision is made into the skull and the surgeon passes through equipment to operate on the tumor. The surgeon is often guided by MRI, CT or ultrasound scans so they can accurately locate the cancer. If the tumor is located in close proximity to vital parts of the brain, advanced technologies such as fMRI scans and cortical mapping can be used to preserve areas of critical function.

At SunState Medical Specialists we specialize in advanced radiation therapy techniques that are designed to be effective and minimize the side effects you’ll experience. As the largest radiation oncology provider in the U.S. and a global leader in cancer care, our broad experience and world-class expertise means we offer advanced and innovative radiotherapy as standard.

Our latest-generation machines are built to deliver highly targeted radiation beams. The accuracy of these treatments, together with the expertise of our teams, helps our patients achieve the best possible outcomes.

The type of brain and spinal cord cancer treatment your radiation oncologist recommends will depend on your diagnosis, if the cancer has spread to other parts of your body, your general health and personal preferences.

Radiation therapy for brain and spinal cord cancers

At SunState Medical Specialists, we offer various drug therapies and a wide range of the latest anti-cancer drugs for the treatment of brain and spinal cord cancers, including chemotherapy and targeted therapy.

Chemotherapy for brain and spinal cord cancers

Chemotherapy refers to drugs that destroy cancer cells. Our expert teams may recommend chemotherapy before or after other treatments, or on its own. It can also be combined with radiation therapy (chemoradiation).

Targeted therapy for brain and spinal cord cancers

As researchers know more about brain and spinal cord cancers, they have developed new treatments that can specifically target them. We use targeted therapy to seek and attack cellular activity that the cancer depends on to survive and grow. They are used depending on the specific genetic make up of your cancer. Types of targeted therapy for brain and spinal cord cancers include:

• Agiogenesis inhibitors – work by blocking the protein VEGF which promotes new blood vessel formation and helps tumors grow

SunState Medical Specialists offers community-based cancer care and other services at convenient locations. The company’s purpose is to redefine the care experience by improving patient outcomes, access and care delivery. With advanced technology and innovative treatment options, skilled physicians and support staff offer comprehensive and coordinated care in radiation oncology, medical oncology, hematology, urology, diagnostics and surgical oncology.