When cancer appears in the brain and spinal cord—the core of your central nervous system—you want the most experienced, compassionate, positive-thinking and problem-solving medical team at your side. Neuro-oncology brain cancer specialists at CPMC's Cancer Center are at the forefront of treating people with brain tumors, delivering treatment options and performing craniotomy and state-of-the-art microsurgery to help return you to full health.
California Pacific Medical Center is one of a small number of community hospitals in the nation with an integrated neuro-oncology program. Working collaboratively, CPMC neurosurgeon and neuro-oncologist teams complement each other in skill set, knowledge and ability to treat some of the most complicated brain cancers. Our brain tumor board, which includes sub-specialists and invited guests, uses a multi-disciplinary approach to treat your case with individualized care.
Because we know you want immediate attention when you’re diagnosed with a brain tumor, we are easily accessible to both referring physicians and patients and will keep your team fully informed throughout your treatment. As a program of the California Pacific Neuroscience Institute (CPNI), we provide a full continuum of care, including comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. All services are supported by leading-edge technology and surgical techniques, as well as clinical research.
Our compassionate approach tends to your whole being, not just your disease. From day one of your diagnosis, a Nurse Navigator can partner with you and your family by coordinating services, offering education, answering questions, listening and providing counseling and hope. In addition, some of our locations offer dozens of integrative health modalities, such as massage, music or pet therapy, and spiritual practice to help you deal with the stress and anxiety of your situation.
Better Treatments for Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors
Your tumor may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Either type can destroy nearby healthy tissue, so you and your doctor will discuss biopsy options and treatments to reduce it (called tumor debulking) or remove it.
Because the CPMC Cancer Center is part of the Sutter Health network, you also have access to more than 120 neurology specialists and neuro-oncologists at affiliate sites. Sutter Neuroscience Institute in Sacramento is one of about 20 health centers in California using the NICO Myriad® device, a tool that helps neurosurgeons remove hard-to-reach brain and spinal tumors through much smaller incisions. This means shorter and more successful surgeries, particularly for tumors deep inside the brain. In addition, surgeons in the Sutter Health network practice brain mapping by using a variety of imaging technologies to learn as much as possible about a tumor (size, shape, location) before and during surgery in order to minimize damage to surrounding tissues.
