Here’s what you should know about brain tumors:

• More than 170,000 Americans will face a brain tumor diagnosis this year.
• Brain tumors can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a mixture of these therapies.
• Metastatic brain tumors, those that have spread from tumors originating in other parts of the body, are the most common brain tumor.

Our center treats cancerous and benign tumors in the brain with a specialized type of radiation therapy called stereotactic radiosurgery. During the procedure, precisely targeted radiation beams are delivered directly to a patient’s tumor with sub-millimeter accuracy, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Learn more about the TrueBeam STx® brain tumor treatment process on our conditions treated page or visit the American Brain Tumor Association for support resources. Click here to learn about the Brain & Spine Tumor Clinic at Rush University Medical Center.

The Rush network has been a part of Chicago’s history longer than any other health care institution citywide. Rush Medical College opened as the first medical school in Chicago and established Presbyterian Hospital, a teaching hospital. Years later, the hospital would merge with St. Luke’s Hospital and eventually be renamed as Rush University Medical Center in 2003.

In recent months, the hospital has launched a number of initiatives to improve cancer patient care including the first and only trial of a new drug for brain tumors, patient cancer conference collaborations and the launch of our center Rush Radiosurgery to offer a noninvasive treatment option for tumors throughout the body.

We are honored to be affiliated with such a prestigious network of healthcare professionals. To learn more about Rush University Medical Center, visit their website.

• Diseases most often treated in the last year are brain, lung and spinal tumors.
• Fifty-three percent of patients have travelled from outside of Rush’s service area, coming from as far as Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Texas and Florida.
• The Rush Radiosurgery physician team earned several honors, including an invitation received by the center’s medical director, Dr. Aidnag Diaz, to present research at the annual meeting of the Radiosurgical Society of North America, the publishing of Dr. David Sher’s clinical research in the American Journal of Clinical Oncology and the inclusion of Dr. Ross Abrams in Chicago Magazine’s “Top Doctors.”

“We are so proud of the impact this treatment has had on the lives of patients not only in the Chicago area but across the nation,” said Dr. Diaz. “The launch of Rush Radiosurgery and addition of TrueBeam STx allows us to offer a specialized form of radiation therapy provided by a multidisciplinary team that collaborates to deliver the best possible outcomes for each patient.”

As the program moves into its second year, physicians who treat patients at Rush Radiosurgery have launched a new initiative aimed at increasing the convenience of the consultation and treatment process. Patients diagnosed with a metastatic brain tumor can now call Dr. Diaz, a radiation oncologist, or Rush Radiosurgery neurosurgeon Dr. Lorenzo Muñoz directly at (312) RUSH-MET (787-4638) to set up appointments or ask questions.

This is particularly important since patients whose cancer has spread to the brain usually live just 12 weeks without treatment. Brain tumors, some of which include brain metastases, are currently Rush Radiosurgery’s most frequently treated disease and an area of specialty for the center’s doctors.

The new direct line will work together with the Coleman Foundation Comprehensive Brain and Spine Tumor Clinic opened in Fall 2012 to offer patients coordinated care. The clinic, led by Rush Radiosurgery neurosurgeon Dr. John O’Toole and Dr. Diaz, offers patients the opportunity to consult with cancer treatment specialists. The clinic offers patients the full range of treatments for brain and spine tumors including chemotherapy, surgery or stereotactic radiosurgery.

Rush Radiosurgery’s advanced technology, TrueBeam STx, offers stereotactic radiosurgery, a noninvasive way of treating tumors and other medical conditions with very precise, high-dose radiation. During treatment, patients lie on a table while the machine rotates around them, aiming radiation beams directly at a tumor site.

The accuracy of TrueBeam STx allows physicians to treat difficult-to-reach tumors or those considered inoperable. The technology contours the radiation beams delivered during treatment to match the three-dimensional shape of a tumor, helping to protect nearby healthy tissue.

The TrueBeam STx treats tumors in one to five procedures that usually take about 15 minutes each. Because the process is noninvasive, patients usually return to normal activities immediately following treatment.

TrueBeam STx is used to treat cancerous and noncancerous tumors in the lung, brain, spine, liver, pancreas, kidney, bone and eye. It can also treat certain types of blood vessel abnormalities, as well as trigeminal neuralgia, a nerve disorder that causes intense facial pain.

The ALA encourages participation in local chapters through advocacy, donations, volunteering or participating in local events. On June 14, the ALA will host a “Fight For Air Ride – Lake Tour Bike Trek,” where participants will bike around rural communities in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. To register for the event or learn how you can participate, click here. Examples of other ALA events include walks and runs, support groups and advocacy opportunities to promote lung health.

For more information on the ALA and ways to get involved, visit the ALA Illinois chapter’s website.

The Chicago chapter celebrated 15 years of cancer support in winter 2012. Gilda’s Club Chicago has continuously offered more than 300 free activities each month for cancer patients and their loved ones, including events at Rush Radiosurgery’s hospital partner, Rush University Medical Center. Rush partners with Gilda’s Club Chicago to offer a number of support groups and relaxation activities such as chair yoga, T’ai Chi Chih and meditation.

To learn more about a free membership to Gilda’s Club Chicago or discover ways to get involved in the programs at Rush, visit their website.

Medical Director Dr. Aidnag Diaz discussed the benefits of stereotactic radiosurgery for the treatment of brain metastases. The group of more than 50 attendees toured the Department of Radiation Oncology at Rush University Medical Center, our prestigious hospital partner, and watched a live demonstration of Rush Radiosurgery’s TrueBeam STx^® system.

CART is a non-profit organization providing educational resources for current and aspiring radiation therapists. Thanks to all who attended our recent event!

To see more photos from the meeting, visit Rush Radiosurgery’s Flickr page.

There are several different treatment options available depending on the type of cancer and the size, shape and location of a tumor. Treatment options can include surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy, sometimes in combination.

Rush Radiosurgery offers a treatment option called stereotactic radiosurgery, an advanced form of radiation therapy that delivers high-dose radiation beams to a tumor from virtually unlimited angles. Compared with conventional radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery has key differences. Though both treat tumors noninvasively, radiation dosage, duration of treatment and potential side effects can differ.

The information provided about medical conditions, treatment options, comparisons and associated risks is a very brief overview. Not all patients are TrueBeam STx^® candidates. Consult your doctor for any diagnosis and its best treatment.

*Source: American Cancer Society.

The information provided about medical conditions, treatment options, comparisons and associated risks is a very brief overview. Consult your doctor for any diagnosis and its best treatment.