| Tumor Surgery | | | | are most often treated with a combination of |
| A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of cells within | | | | surgery and chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy |
| the brain, which can be cancerous (malignant) or | | | | (in about 55% of cases). In some instances, |
| non-cancerous (benign). It is defined as any | | | | non-curative surgery may make other treatments |
| intracranial tumor created by abnormal and | | | | more effective. Debulking a cancer—making it |
| uncontrolled cell division, normally either in the brain | | | | smaller by surgical removal of a large part of it—is |
| itself (neurons, glial cells (astrocytes, | | | | thought to make radiation and chemotherapy more |
| oligodendrocytes, ependymal cells, myelin-producing | | | | effective. |
| Schwann cells), lymphatic tissue, blood vessels), in the | | | | |
| cranial nerves, in the brain envelopes (meninges), skull, | | | | Complete tumor removal |
| pituitary and pineal gland, or spread from cancers | | | | Once surgical removal has been decided, an oncologic |
| primarily located in other organs (metastatic tumors). | | | | surgeon will remove the tumor whole, taking with it a |
| | | | large section of the surrounding normal tissue. The |
| A tumor is an abnormal growth caused by the | | | | healthy tissue is removed to minimize the risk of |
| uncontrolled division of cells. Benign tumors do not | | | | possible seeding. |
| have the potential to spread to other parts of the | | | | Primary brain tumors include any tumor that starts in |
| body (a process called metastasis) and are curable by | | | | the brain. Primary brain tumors can arise from the |
| surgical removal. Malignant or cancerous tumors, | | | | brain cells, the membranes around the brain |
| however, may metastasize to other parts of the | | | | (meninges), nerves, or glands. |
| body and will ultimately result in death if not | | | | Tumors can directly destroy brain cells. They can also |
| successfully treated by surgery and/or other | | | | damage cells by producing inflammation, placing |
| methods.. | | | | pressure on other parts of the brain, and increasing |
| Surgical removal is one of four main ways that | | | | pressure within the skull. |
| tumors are treated. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, | | | | |
| and biological therapy are other treatment options. | | | | Please log on to:Tumor Surgery |
| There are a number of factors used to determine | | | | Please log on to :Neurosurgery |
| which methods will best treat a tumor. Because | | | | We Care Core Values |
| benign tumors do not have the potential to | | | | "We have a very simple business model that keeps |
| metastasize, they are often treated successfully with | | | | you as the centre. |
| surgical removal alone. Malignant tumors, however, | | | | |