Brain cancer

Brain cancer care in Denver

At HealthONE hospitals, our specialized oncologists provide expert care for brain cancer. We use advanced procedures—including stereotactic radiosurgery—to offer patients access to high-quality treatment options.

Our goal is to provide patients with continued levels of support, from diagnosis and treatment through survivorship.

For more information about cancer diagnosis, treatment and other services, call askSARAH at (303) 253-3225.

Specialized brain tumor treatment

At HealthONE hospitals, our multidisciplinary team of oncologists, neurologists and surgeons, work together to accurately diagnose and treat brain cancer. While the median age at diagnosis for primary brain tumors is 60 years old, brain tumors are the second most common cancer among children between infancy and 14 years old. Knowing this, our program is equipped to provide compassionate, comprehensive cancer care and neurological care to patients in many age groups.

Symptoms of brain cancer

Depending on the location of the tumor, there can be many different symptoms of brain cancer. Some of these symptoms include:

• Changes in sensations, such as vision or smell
• Changes in ability to walk or perform daily activities
• Drowsiness
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Muscle twitches
• Nausea or vomiting
• Personality or memory changes
• Sleep problems

Risk factors for brain cancer

The direct cause of a brain tumor is often unknown. However, risk factors for brain tumors include:

• A family history of someone with brain cancer
• Age (Brain tumors are more common in children and older adults.)
• Gender (Men are more likely to develop brain cancer than women.)

Treatments for brain cancer

Depending on your unique situation, our doctors may provide any of the following treatments for brain cancer:

• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Surgical tumor removal

Stereotactic radiosurgery

At Swedish Medical Center, we offer a specialized procedure for brain cancer known as stereotactic radiosurgery. It is often referred to as “knifeless” brain surgery and can provide an option for treatment for formerly inoperable tumors.

Stereotactic radiosurgery delivers doses of pinpointed radiation to treat brain tumors and other neurological diseases with minimal damage to normal brain tissue. Non-invasive stereotactic radiosurgery treatments are completed in a matter of hours as an outpatient procedure.

Benefits of stereotactic radiosurgery

This type of surgery offers many benefits for patients, including:

• A discharge within 12 hours, reducing the cost of treatment compared to traditional brain surgery
• A return to their preoperative lifestyle the day following the procedure
• A safe, accurate, reliable and non-invasive outpatient procedure
• Coverage by Medicare and most insurance providers
• Lower incidence of postoperative complications, infections and internal hemorrhage
• Virtually no pain, discomfort or side effects

Cancer clinical trials

Clinical trials are research studies conducted to answer important medical questions with the hope of finding better ways to treat diseases. They are used to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of new or investigational drugs, combinations of new and/or existing drugs and drug delivery methods.

HealthONE and Sarah Cannon Cancer Research Institute in Denver, offer community-based clinical trials across a wide range of cancer types including many brain-related cancers. Visit our clinical trials page to learn more and search for available trials.