Brain tumors: Nationally recognized advanced care

Not all brain tumors are the same, and less than one-third of brain tumors are cancerous.

Patients with a cancerous tumor receive expert care from specialists at UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center, one of six original NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers and the only one in Wisconsin.

If your tumor is non-cancerous, you might not need immediate treatment, while other, more serious tumors can cause significant health problems and be more complex to treat. That’s why UW Health’s brain tumor program is your one-stop care destination, regardless of what kind of tumor you have.

Experience matters

When it comes to brain tumor treatment, you’ll want to choose a team that's seen patients with a situation like yours many times before. Our UW Health experts treat more than 1,200 brain tumor patients each year.

Our doctors and nurses use the most advanced techniques for diagnosis and treatment. Because we respect your time and know how much convenience matters, we go the extra mile to coordinate your appointments to reduce travel time.

The UW Health brain tumor program is recognized as:

• A referral center for rare tumor types and clinical trial options

• A research and teaching center, part of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Benefit from our research

The tumor doctors at UW Health study ways to improve brain tumor care and treatment. Their pathbreaking work allows you to access the latest treatment options. Learn more about our research and clinical trials.

The best tumor treatment will depend on what type of tumor you have and where it’s located. Your care team will work with you to create a plan that is best for your unique health.

Evaluating your tumor

Typically we need to get images of your tumor to know how to best treat it. At UW Health, we offer many advanced brain imaging options, including the latest MRI and PET scanning techniques.

Noninvasive treatments 

Your doctor might prescribe medicines to treat symptoms of your tumor. Sometimes steroids are prescribed to reduce swelling. This lets your doctor see the extent of your tumor. 

Chemotherapy  

After surgery, we use chemotherapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells. 

Surgical treatments

Some tumors must be removed with surgery. We always use the least invasive option. This helps you have less pain and a quicker recovery. 

Radiation treatments

Radiation destroys tumor cells. There are different radiation treatments available. They include:

• Image-guided radiation therapy: Uses imaging systems to guide radiation to a tumor target

• Pulsed reduced-dose rate radiation therapy: Slowly delivers radiation. This reduces damage to normal brain tissue.

• Stereostatic radiosurgery: Pinpoints a tumor and protects nearby healthy tissues.

Other treatment options

Depending on your type of tumor, you may need other treatments. Options include:

• Optune device: This treatment uses electric fields to stop cancer cells from growing.

Your tumor care team provides any support you and your family might need. We help you access services and reduce stress.

Brain Tumor Support Group

Our Brain Tumor Support Group brings together patients, survivors, family and friends. You’ll learn about brain tumors and share experiences. The group meets on the third Tuesday of the month at University Hospital. Start times vary. To receive notices of meetings and events, please email Stacey Martens at smartens@uwhealth.org or call (608) 263-8521.

At UW Health, we use advanced procedures to treat challenging brain tumors, provide second opinions and deliver hope. These patient stories show how our brain tumor expertise changes the outcome for our patients.

We offer specialized brain tumor care at UW Health clinics in Madison, Wis., and Rockford, Ill.

The brain tumor team at UW Health includes experts in brain tumors, cancer, neurology and neurosurgery.