Brain Metastases
Neurosurgery located in Birmingham, AL
Brain metastases are the most common type of brain cancer in adults, affecting between 150,000-200,000 Americans each year. The board-certified neurosurgeons at Alabama Neurological Surgery & Spine in Birmingham, Alabama, provide comprehensive care for brain metastases, including radiation therapy and surgery. Call the office to request a consultation for brain metastases today, or make an appointment online.
Brain metastases form when cancer from another part of your body spreads to your brain. Any type of cancer can spread, but the most common causes of brain metastases are lung, kidney, breast, and colon cancers.
Symptoms of brain metastases include:
Some people experience nausea, vomiting, and other similar side effects, depending on the location of the tumor.
Make an appointment at Alabama Neurological Surgery & Spine if you have neurological symptoms that worry you. That’s particularly true if you’ve been treated for cancer in the past or have a history of neurological health problems.
Anyone with cancer can develop brain metastasis, but certain types of cancer may increase your risk, including:
If you have any of these cancers, it’s vital to work with a qualified neurosurgeon. Routine checkups can alert you to potential metastases early on when they’re easiest to treat.
Your Alabama Neurological Surgery & Spine provider reviews your health charts, asks about your symptoms, and completes a neurological exam. They check your vision and hearing and assess your balance, strength, and reflexes.
Next, they order diagnostic imaging, such as MRIs or CT scans. If your results show abnormal growth, your provider orders a biopsy. During a biopsy, your doctor uses a long, thin needle to collect a sample of tissue for testing.
Treatment of brain metastases depends on their size, location, and cause. Brain cancer tends to recur, even after treatment, so regular monitoring is crucial.
Alabama Neurological Surgery & Spine may recommend:
The goal is to ease the pain and provide relief from uncomfortable symptoms.
Call Alabama Neurological Surgery & Spine to explore the treatments for brain metastases today, or make an appointment online.