Each patient who comes to MD Anderson’s Brain and Spine Center for brain tumor treatment receives customized care from some of the nation’s top experts.
Take it one day at a time, and never give up.
From diagnosis through treatment and follow-up, you are the focus of a team of specialists who personalize your therapy for your unique situation.
We have one of the most active programs in the country for treatment of benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancer) brain tumors. This gives us a level of expertise and experience that can translate into more successful outcomes for many brain tumor patients.
Our team approach to care brings together more than 70 highly trained physicians from some 14 areas, all dedicated to brain tumor care or research. Each team is joined by a specially trained support staff. They all work together closely to be sure you receive individualized care.
Specialized, Comprehensive Brain Tumor Care
Successful brain tumor care depends on accurate diagnosis. At the Brain and Spine Center, four neuropathologists focus only on diagnosing brain and spine tumors. This sets us apart from many other cancer centers and helps us target each tumor for optimal outcomes.
Pioneering Brain Tumor Research
Several brain tumor treatments that are standard care around the world were discovered here, including:
- Berubicin, the first blood-brain penetrating agent
- Temozolomide, a drug to treat glioblastoma
And, we continue to look at new diagnostic and treatment approaches, including attacking disease on a molecular basis. We are able to offer clinical trials of target therapies in some cases.
We are proud to be one of the few cancer centers in the nation to house a prestigious federally funded brain tumor SPORE (Specialized Program of Research Excellence) program. We’re studying new ways to prevent and treat brain tumors to give patients everywhere futures filled with hope.
Facts
Understanding a disease is the first step toward finding the right care. Get the facts about brain tumors, including the different types, how it starts and who’s at risk.
Brain tumor facts
Did You Know?
Brain tumors are one of the few cancer types that can strike at any age.
Symptoms
Most cancers have the same symptoms as other, less serious conditions. Still, it’s important to know the signs.
Diagnosis
Blood tests, imaging exams and even surgical procedures are used to check for cancer.
Treatment
Common cancer treatments include chemotherapy, radiation treatment and surgery. Doctors select a treatment plan based on your diagnosis and disease stage.
Research
Research fuels our mission to end cancer. Learn how MD Anderson researchers and physician-scientists are fighting cancer by improving prevention, detection and treatment strategies.
Glioblastoma Moon Shot
MD Anderson’s Glioblastoma Moon Shot™ aims to rapidly and dramatically improve the disease’s survival rates and reduce suffering through powerful new treatment approaches and research.
Learn more about the Glioblastoma Moon ShotTate Landin was 23 and training for his first deployment with the U.S. Army when he began to notice his brain tumor symptoms.
“About once a month I would smell this sharp, metallic scent and my arms would tingle,” Tate says. He would later learn the brief episodes were symptoms of a left temporal lobe brain tumor, but at the time, he was diagnosed with anxiety attacks and cleared for duty.
Tate deployed to Afghanistan...
