A new center to treat brain tumors opened at Stanford Hospital and Clinics Wednesday (Sept. 21). The Stanford Brain Tumor Center does not have a new, separate facility, but hospital specialists are coordinating the care patients receive.
“Our patients can feel that not only are they being seen in a world-class medical center, but that they’re getting the expertise of our physicians,” said Steven D. Chang, M.D., director of the neuromolecular innovation program.
At the new center, the average first visit will include time with a doctor, nurses and sometimes with a social worker and other supportive services, Seema Nagpal, M.D., another team member, said.
The center has a group of nurses with special neurological-care certification and social workers who specialize in needs particular to tumor patients and their families, Nagpal said.
An interdisciplinary brain-tumor board comprised of more than 20 specialist physicians and nurses meets weekly to review and discuss patient treatment plans.
The center also connects patients to clinical trials and research at Stanford. Investigations include brain cancer’s cellular biology, cell markers for early tumor detections and the cell’s gene structure.
More information about the Stanford Brain Tumor Center is available at stanfordhospital.org/clinicsmedServices/COE/neuro/braintumor/.
This new brain tumor center (as well as several other progressive and comprehensive treatment centers at Stanford) is a very good reason to be thankful that we have this medical resource close by.