Brain Tumors Specialist
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Ventura Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery located in Midtown, Ventura, CA
Every year, around 80,000 Americans receive a brain tumor diagnosis. At Ventura Neurosurgery, in Ventura, California, David Westra, MD, a board-certified neurosurgeon, and Michael Dorsi, MD diagnose brain tumors and offer customized, state-of-the-art treatment and surgery to remove your brain tumor and restore your health. Call Ventura Neurosurgery or schedule a consultation online today for expert neurosurgery services.
Brain Tumors Q&A
What are brain tumors?
A brain tumor develops when abnormal cells multiply and form a mass inside your skull. Brain tumors are either primary, meaning they originate in your brain, or metastatic, which means that cancer originated as abnormal cell growth elsewhere in your body before spreading to your brain. For example, lung cancer often leads to metastatic brain tumors.
Brain tumors are also identified by their location. For example, meningiomas begin in your meninges. Your meninges is the membrane that surrounds and protects your brain and spinal cord.
Other common types of brain tumors include:
- Pituitary adenomas
- Schwannomas
- Gliomas
- Glioblastoma multiforme
Brain tumors are not necessarily cancerous. For example, meningioma and schwannoma are benign. A pituitary adenoma is also usually benign, and even when they’re malignant, they don’t typically spread.
However, glioblastoma is often aggressive and requires rapid, expert treatment, which the team at Ventura Neurosurgery can provide.
What are the warning signs of a brain tumor?
While you could have a brain tumor without any symptoms, some of the common signs of a brain tumor include:
- Headaches
- Seizures
- Reduced cognitive ability
- Confusion and disorientation
- Reduced speech or articulation
- Personality changes
- Weakness or paralysis on one side of your body
- Facial tingling or numbness
- Loss of balance and coordination
- Dizziness
- Vision and hearing changes
- Nausea and vomiting
If these symptoms sound familiar and are disrupting your ability to function in your day-to-day life, call Ventura Neurosurgery to schedule an assessment and find out what is causing your symptoms. Getting an early diagnosis is often critical to successful treatment.
How are brain tumors treated?
The team at Ventura Neurosurgery begins with a thorough diagnosis, including biopsy or tumor resection to locate and identify your tumor. While radiation and chemotherapy are often effective treatments for brain tumors, in some cases, surgery is the best option to remove the cancerous growth and eliminate some of your symptoms.
The team at Ventura Neurosurgery collaborates with your oncologist to ensure you receive the best possible care to address your needs.
If you need surgery, the team at Ventura Neurosurgery uses state-of-the-art surgical navigation systems to pinpoint the location of your tumor and remove it with minimal risk to your healthy brain tissue. The goal is to extract the tumor without interfering with your neurological functions.
If you have a brain tumor and are looking for expert neurosurgery services, call Ventura Neurosurgery today or make an appointment online.
