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. With Sutter’s Northern California network, you have access to more than 120 neurology specialists and neuro-oncologists, and highly trained nurses who provide personalized care that’s at the forefront of brain and spinal cord medicine.
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.
We take special care of our youngest patients. Sutter Children’s Center and the Sutter Neuroscience Institute in Sacramento combine resources to provide your little one with truly exceptional care for brain and spinal cord cancer. Our highly regarded department regularly receives referral patients from the National Brain Tumor Foundation and Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
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. You and your doctor will discuss biopsy options, a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) and treatments to reduce it (called tumor debulking) or remove it.
Sutter Neuroscience Institute 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.
