May is National Brain Tumor Awareness Month.  Driven by advancement in research, surgical techniques, genetic discoveries, and much more, it has never been a better time to take action on brain tumors. The National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS), an organization whose mission is to unrelentingly invest in, mobilize, and unite our community to discover a cure, deliver effective treatments, and advocate for brain tumor patients and care partners, estimates that 700,000 people in the United States are living with a primary brain tumor and over 87,000 more will be diagnosed in 2020. A brain tumor ..read more

A recent study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, an international peer-reviewed medical journal, found that patients with three or fewer metastatic brain tumors who received treatment with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) had less cognitive deterioration three months after treatment than patients who received SRS combined with whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT).  For the federally funded, Mayo Clinic-led, multi-institution study, researchers enrolled 213 patients between February 2002 and December 2013, and randomly assigned them to treatment with SRS alone ..read more

May is National Brain Tumor Awareness Month. This time focuses on increased efforts to raise awareness of brain tumors, increase funding for research and educate the public on symptoms and treatment options. Tumors in the brain can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a mixture of these therapies. For patients facing a brain tumor diagnosis, it can be difficult to choose a treatment option. At CyberKnife Center of Chicago, our multidisciplinary team of experienced cancer care specialists works to identify and present you and your family with appropriate treatment op ..read more

Sometimes called secondary brain tumors, metastatic brain tumors are caused by cancer cells spreading, or metastasizing from other organs in the body to the brain. These metastatic brain tumors are five times more common than primary brain tumors (tumors that originate in the brain) and make up the majority of brain tumor diagnoses. Cancers of the lung, breast, melanoma, colon, kidney and thyroid are among the most common types that can spread to the brain. Treatment options for metastatic brain tumors usually involve surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. Depending on the complexity ..read more

Two research studies were conducted in 2013 that both provided interesting new findings on the benefit of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for brain tumor treatment. Study 1 – Announced by the American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in September 2013, the study found data indicating that adult cancer patients, under the age of 50 who had a limited number of brain metastases have improved overall survival rates after SRS treatment alone when not combined with whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT). Although the optimal treatment for brain metastases is currently unknown, the research may ha ..read more

Join our center in showing support for Brain Awareness Week as it kicks-off this week across the world. The annual global campaign is dedicated to increasing public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research through a weeklong series of activities hosted by organizers across the country. Our center uses CyberKnife® technology to treat cancerous and noncancerous brain tumors with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Below are some of the key benefits of SRS treatment for brain tumors: No invasive head frame – SRS with CyberKnife does not require attachment of a metal head frame ..read more

Using CyberKnife® technology, our center treats brain tumors with stereotactic radiosurgery. While the name may conjure images of knives and scalpels, CyberKnife treatment is completely nonsurgical and requires no sedation. The video below will walk you through the four main steps that are generally involved with the CyberKnife treatment process. This is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your health care team. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor ..read more

Metastatic cancer occurs when cancerous cells spread from a primary cancer site to other parts of the body. Despite spreading to another location within the body, the cancer is considered an extension of the original tumor. For example, lung cancer that spreads to the liver is considered metastatic lung cancer. Metastatic cancers are difficult to monitor because they often cause symptoms common to other diseases, and it is not uncommon for the new tumors to be discovered while testing for a different condition. When tumors stop growing and cancer cells break away to metastasize, they travel th ..read more

According to the American Cancer Society, brain tumors account for one in every 100 cancers diagnosed annually in the United States. CyberKnife® stereotactic radiosurgery is an advanced treatment option for brain tumors, providing an important nonsurgical alternative for patients. Below is a brief overview of brain tumors, incidence rates and treatment options ..read more

Breast cancer is the second-most diagnosed cancer in women in the U.S., making considerations for the spread of breast cancer a particularly important conversation for women at risk. Once breast cancer symptoms begin to appear, the cancer may have advanced and spread to another part of the body. Newly diagnosed women may be surprised to find out that breast cancer can spread to other areas of the body, requiring a more aggressive treatment plan. One of the most common sites for metastasis, or spread, of primary breast cancer is the brain. When primary breast cancer has spread, it is considered ..read more