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Any tumor locked within the confines of your skull or spinal column is taking away space from the tissue you need to think, walk, feel, smell, taste and live life. If it hasn’t infringed on your ability to function, it likely will soon.
Changes in brain cells’ DNA can lead them to grow uncontrollably or continue living when healthy cells normally would die. The accumulation of extra cells makes up a tumor.
Even a benign (noncancerous) brain or spinal column tumor is a very serious condition.
Thanks to advances in research and treatment, the survivability of benign or cancerous brain tumors has increased dramatically over the years.
Headache is the most common symptom of a brain tumor, but we all get headaches. If your headaches are persistent and wake you up at night, you should talk to a medical provider. If you don’t have a history of chronic headaches or migraine, but suddenly get headaches that become more frequent and painful over a few days or weeks, talk to a medical professional.
The physicians with Norton Healthcare Brain Tumor Center, a collaboration of Norton Neuroscience Institute and Norton Cancer Institute, are also researchers. As frequent leaders of clinical trials into new therapies, our neuro-oncology, radiation oncology and neurosurgery specialists can offer access to new drugs and treatments before they’re approved for wider use. As researchers, our physicians are often more experienced than others with a new therapy once it’s approved for widespread use.
If you get a brain or spinal tumor diagnosis, you want to start getting better right away. We offer same-day appointments for newly diagnosed patients.
Our board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians practice at the Brain Tumor Center on the campus of Norton Brownsboro Hospital and downtown at the Norton Cancer Institute offices. Infusion centers are located across the Louisville and Southern Indiana area. Resource centers offer support and education.
The Brain Tumor Center is the region’s only comprehensive brain tumor center of its type. One location allows patients to schedule multiple appointments for the same day.
Brain or spinal cord tumors can cause a variety of symptoms, making early diagnosis difficult. Symptoms depend on where the tumor is located, its size, how quickly it’s growing and its type.
Headaches typically accompany a brain tumor, while back pain is a common early symptom of a spinal cord tumor. Of course, there are many causes of headache and back pain that aren’t tumors. If you have symptoms that are unusual for you or get worse over time, consult your primary care provider.
Up to half of people with brain tumors will have seizures at some point, according to the American Cancer Society.
Brain tumors typically have no obvious cause, but there are a few factors that can increase the risk.
You are encouraged to get second opinions after our diagnosis, and we are ready to help other centers review your case. You are the most important person in your brain tumor care. Understanding your treatment options is an important step on your path to recovery.
We welcome the opportunity to provide an opinion if you’ve received a brain tumor diagnosis. Fill out our secure form, and we’ll be in touch within three business days.
We fuse multiple imaging modalities such as MRI, CT or positron emission tomography (PET) scans to ensure optimal accuracy when targeting brain tumors. This helps us destroy brain tumor cells while avoiding damage to surrounding healthy brain tissue.
In addition to advancements in conventional chemotherapy, the Norton Healthcare Brain Tumor Center is actively involved in the search for immunotherapy treatments for brain cancer. Our physicians routinely take part in clinical trials of new and innovative treatments that use the body’s immune system to target brain cancer cells.
Tumor treating fields (TTF) deliver an electric field to the outside of the patient’s head, intended to disrupt tumor cells’ ability to grow and spread.
Newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients appear to benefit if the tumor treating fields treatment, also known as alternating electrical field therapy, is combined with chemotherapy treatments and radiation therapy.
John and Jessica Bostock were at an exciting time in their lives when John was diagnosed with glioblastoma. Six years later, John is a glioblastoma survivor.
Read John and Jessica’s Story
NeuroBlate laser interstitial thermal therapy uses real-time MRI to guide a laser probe, offering precision to destroy abnormal tissue while doing as little harm as possible to surrounding healthy tissue. Norton Healthcare has been using NeuroBlate longer than any other provider in the region.