New Treatment for Cancer and Brain Tumors

There have been many new advances in the treatment of cancer and brain tumors. These treatments go beyond chemotherapy and radiation and offer fresh hope to cancer patients and, often, more painless ways of treating the disease.

Targeted Treatments

• Targeted treatments treat specific parts or functions of tumor cells, interfering and redirecting the way the cells work. Because of this, a host of new innovative drugs, immune therapies and drug delivery systems are developing.

Immunotherapy Vaccines

• The body's immune system identifies and destroys foreign cells, viruses and other potentially harmful organisms; however, sometimes our immune systems do not recognize cancer cells as dangerous or foreign. Immunotherapy vaccines cause the immune system to recognize and attack tumor cells.

Avastin

• Avastin is a cancer medication used to stop the growth of brain tumors and other cancer cells by blocking new blood vessels from developing in tumors, thus slowing their growth.

Computer-Assisted Neurosurgery

• Computer-assisted neurosurgery allows surgeons to map the brain and treat tumors more accurately and aggressively.

Intraoperative MRI

• An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is a technique used to create detailed images of the body's organs using magnetic fields and radio waves. An intraoperative MRI allows surgeons to collect real-time data on a tumor's volume and location.