Brain Tumor Diagnosis & Treatment at Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican Hospitals

A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of cells in your brain. There are three types of brain tumors: 

  • Brain tumor metastasis is a secondary brain tumor. This occurs when cancer in another part of the body spreads to the brain and forms a tumor.
  • Primary malignant brain tumors are cancerous tumors that start in your brain and may spread to other parts of the brain or the spine. Examples include glioblastoma, astrocytoma, and brainstem glioma.
  • Benign brain tumors are primary, noncancerous brain growths. They may get larger and cause potentially serious problems depending on their exact location, but they do not spread beyond the brain. The most common primary brain tumor is a meningioma, which is usually benign.

If you are at risk or showing symptoms of a brain tumor, it’s important that you get the best care as early as possible. The neurologists at Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican hospitals have the resources and technology to help care for your brain tumor in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV. To learn more, find a neurologist today.

 

Brain Tumor Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of a brain tumor vary according to its size and where in the brain the tumor is located. There may be no signs in the early stages, when the tumor is small. 

Some of the more common symptoms of a brain tumor include:

  • Dizziness
  • Blurred vision
  • Personality changes 
  • Difficulty concentrating or staying on task
  • Seizures
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Changes in the types of headaches you normally have
  • Increase in headaches
  • Difficulty speaking

 

What Causes Brain Tumors?

A brain tumor can develop when a normal cell develops a change (mutation) in its DNA that makes the cell grow and multiply too fast. The primary tumor can start in different types of cells in the brain, including the meninges (the protective membrane covering the brain), the supporting tissue (called glia), and endocrine (hormone-producing) glands within the brain. Brain tumor experts are actively studying what specific mutations trigger the abnormal growth and what exactly causes mutations in the first place. 

Risk factors that may increase your chances of developing a brain tumor include:

  • Certain illnesses, including neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, and immune disorders
  • Exposure to radiation, including treatment for childhood cancers
  • Family history of brain tumors

 

Brain Tumor Treatment in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV

Treatment depends on the type, size, and stage of tumor, and where it is in the brain. Brain tumor specialists offer the following treatments:

  • Radiation therapy
  • Stereotactic radiosurgery
  • Targeted therapy
  • Surgery
  • Chemotherapy

Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican hospitals provides comprehensive care for brain tumors in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV.