Neurosurgery and cancer expertise
Trust our multidisciplinary team to work with you to create a personalized and coordinated care plan that helps achieve the best outcome and quality of life. A dedicated nurse navigator will work with you to ensure your appointments are coordinated and that you have the information you need to understand your treatment options and make informed decisions.
Benefit from the expertise of highly-skilled providers:
- Medical oncologists – Diagnose and treat brain and nervous system cancers and administer chemotherapy to patients. The providers are part of the UW Health Cancer Center at ProHealth Care and partner with providers at the UW Carbone Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the state.
- Neurologists – Assist in management of seizure medication.
- Neuroradiologists – Use imaging tests to help diagnose and monitor conditions affecting the brain, spine and peripheral nerves.
- Neurosurgeons – Offer surgical options, including microsurgical techniques, to remove tumors from the brain. ProHealth partners with Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, one of the nation’s largest neurosurgical groups, to perform surgical services at ProHealth Waukesha Memorial Hospital.
- Pathologists – Provide microscopic examination of tissue and other samples to diagnose diseases of the brain and nervous system. Also conduct molecular testing to determine the best form of chemotherapy as part of a treatment plan.
- Radiation oncologists – Deliver precise radiosurgery, including stereotactic radiosurgery, and other advanced radiation techniques designed to preserve skin and delicate tissue and structures. The providers are part of the UW Health Cancer Center at ProHealth Care team and partner with providers at the UW Carbone Cancer Center.
Tumors and cancers we treat
Depend on a team experienced in caring for adults facing:
- Acoustic neuroma or vestibular schwannoma – A noncancerous, slow growing tumor that develops on the nerves leading from your inner ear to your brain and may affect your hearing or balance.
- Acromegaly – A rare condition generally caused by a noncancerous tumor in the pituitary gland, resulting in too much growth hormone and increased bone size in the face, hands and feet.
- Astrocytoma – The most common tumor found in the supportive tissues of the brain or spinal cord can be slow growing or aggressive.
- Chondrosarcoma – A cancerous tumor most commonly found in the bony area behind the eyes or at the base of the skull.
- Chordoma – A rare type of bone cancer at the bottom of the spine or base of the skull that tends to grow slowly and can be difficult to treat due to its location.
- Colloid cysts – Slow-growing, gelatin-like masses that are cancerous and can potentially block fluid drainage from the brain.
- Craniopharyngioma – Noncancerous tumors or cysts that grow near the pituitary gland and can place pressure on nerves, blood vessels and tissue, requiring surgical removal.
- Cushing’s disease – A serious condition that occurs when a pituitary tumor causes too much cortisol in the blood and surgery is required for long-term control.
- Dermoid, epidermoid and arachnoid cysts – Harmless slow-growing, fluid-filled cysts that tend to develop before birth and are named after the layer of skin they are located in.
- Glioblastoma – A very aggressive cancerous tumor of the brain or spinal cord that can make its own blood supply and easily invade normal brain tissue.
- Glioma – A term used to describe tumors in the supportive tissue of the brain and spinal cord, including astrocytomas, ependymomas and oligodendrogliomas.
- Lymphoma – A rare disease that starts in the lymph tissues of the brain or spinal cord and can spread throughout the lymphatic system, often impacting older adults and those with an impaired immune system.
- Meningioma – The most common tumor found inside the skull forms along the surface of the brain in the outermost layer of tissue that covers and protects it and the spinal cord.
- Metastatic Tumor – An abnormal growth that develops when cancer cells break off of a tumor in another part of the body and spread to the brain.
- Pituitary Tumor – An abnormal growth in the pituitary gland, also called a pituitary adenoma, that can cause the body make too many or too few hormones.
- Skull Base Tumor – An abnormal growth that forms along the base of the skull or below the skull, often noncancerous and slow growing.
Treatments for brain tumors
Your team of providers will connect with other neuroscience and cancer experts, as needed, and as part of regular case-review conferences. You will be involved in development of a treatment plan that best addresses your condition, goals and preferences.
Your brain or spine cancer treatment may include:
- Neurosurgery – surgery of the brain or spine.
- Chemotherapy.
- Precision therapy guided by molecular testing.
- Radiation therapy or stereotactic radiosurgery.
Brain cancer clinical trials
Ask your care team about brain cancer clinical trials at ProHealth. If you’re a candidate, you may benefit from new treatments not widely available.
Support for patients and families
Lean on a care team that understands the unique challenges of living with a brain tumor. Count on us to:
- Thoroughly explain your diagnosis.
- Answer your questions about the impact of brain tumors on speech, memory, the ability to process thoughts and other tasks and behaviors.
- Connect you with additional support services including speech pathology, occupational or physical therapy, inpatient rehabilitation or a chemopharmacist to assist with oral chemotherapy.
- Help increase feelings of hope and personal strength.
- Offer you educational, support and wellness programs.
