Now when a patient comes in for a follow-up visit, the neurosurgeon and oncologist can review the MRI scan together. If there is an unexpected problem, they can immediately consult, come up with a plan quickly, and communicate it to the family immediately. This streamlining of services also improves the patient's chances for recovery by providing a higher level of care with an integrated plan. One of Sam's most recent clinic visits only took two hours and included starting an intravenous line, a MRI scan and a checkup with both the oncologist and neurosurgeon. The biggest advantage of this new clinic is that the family got one opinion from both specialists instead of two opinions at different times.
Time is of the essence with brain tumors.
This program combines the best team decision making for patients and families with cutting-edge surgical and medical technology. As a team the clinic offers many forms of cancer treatment. Two of the most powerful include new chemotherapy drugs and a 3-D surgical navigation computer to successfully remove tumors. Currently Doernbecher's Brain Tumor Clinic is participating in nine clinical trials to investigate which new chemotherapy treatments are the most effective and have the least side effects. Selden uses a minimally invasive 3-D surgical navigation computer called a sterotatic system or Stealth, to assist in delicately removing deep brain tumors.