Brain Cancer Specialist

What is brain cancer?

Brain cancer develops when cells grow abnormally in your brain and form a mass known as a tumor. Brain tumors typically grow quickly, especially if they’re malignant (cancerous). As the tumor size increases, it can put pressure on your brain and interfere with its function.

You can develop primary brain cancer, which starts in your brain, or metastatic brain cancer that begins somewhere else in your body and travels to your brain.

Your risk for brain cancer increases as you age or if you have a family history of the disease. If you have another type of cancer, including melanoma (skin cancer), or tumors of the lung, breast, kidney, or bladder, you may also be at a greater risk for brain cancer

What are the symptoms of brain cancer?

Brain cancer symptoms depend on the size of the tumor and its location in your brain. Some common symptoms of brain cancer include:

• Fainting
• Seizures
• Headaches
• Vision changes
• Loss of balance
• Lack of coordination
• Cognitive and speech issues

You may also notice changes in your personality or experience uncontrollable muscle movements.

Symptoms of brain cancer can relate to other underlying health conditions, so you should schedule a diagnostic evaluation with the team at Greater Houston Radiation Oncology as soon as you notice changes in your health or behaviors.

How is brain cancer diagnosed?

The team at Greater Houston Radiation Oncology offers on-site diagnostic testing for brain cancer, including imaging tests like positron emission tomography (PET) scans, to identify the tumor’s location.

You may also need a neurology exam to determine how well your brain is functioning. In some cases, a brain biopsy is necessary to extract a sample of the tumor tissue for further testing.

How is brain cancer treated?

The providers at Greater Houston Radiation Oncology customize a treatment plan based on the type of brain cancer you have.

You may need surgery to remove the tumor that’s interfering with your brain function. Following surgery, your provider may recommend chemotherapy that uses medications to kill existing cancer cells. 

The team also offers radiation therapy that uses high-powered energy beams to destroy cancerous cells.

Several radiation therapies are available for brain cancer, including:

• RapidArc – Volumetric Arc Therapy
• Image Guidance Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
• Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
• Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS
• Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
• Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D CRT)
• Four-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (4D CRT)

The team continues to monitor your progress and focuses on restoring your brain function through follow-up visits. You may need to participate in a rehabilitation program that helps improve your speech, mobility, or other brain functions after brain cancer treatment.

To learn more about the options available for brain cancer, contact the Greater Houston Radiation Oncology office nearest you. Call or schedule an appointment online today.