Brain & Spine Tumors
About Our Program
The Barrow Brain and Spine Tumors program is a full-service, complete cancer care team that allows patients with benign and malignant tumors of the head and neck, brain, and spine to have all of their oncological services provided and coordinated in the same center. We are a multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, head and neck surgeons, neuro-oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, speech-language pathologists, and ENT specialists offering the latest treatment for head and neck cancer, neurological cancers, and metastatic cancers.
There are many different types of tumors that affect the brain, spine, head, and neck. Some require no treatment, only watchful waiting. Others require an aggressive treatment plan. Our experienced team of experts take an individual approach that focuses on treating you, the person, and not just your cancer.
At Barrow, we see you as a partner in care, not just a patient. It is our goal to keep you informed about and involved in your treatment.
We also know that having options is important to you. Treatment options at Barrow that we are known for include:
- Access to the largest phase 0 clinical trials program in the world through the Ivy Brain Tumor Center (new headquarters opening in 2024)
- Advanced Cyberknife and Gamma Knife radiosurgery
- Minimally invasive and microscopic brain surgery techniques performed by word-class neurosurgeons, accessible to anyone via Barrow Second Opinion
Our experienced team of experts take an individual approach that focuses on treating you, the person, and not just your cancer.
Barrow Oncology
Barrow Oncology ensures that patients with cancer that has spread beyond the brain and spine can still receive excellent care without having to leave our campus. Our fellowship-trained oncologists are experts in the treatment of metastatic cancers that have spread to the nervous system or nearby structures, and they collaborate with the rest of our team for tumors that have spread to the nervous system. We offer precision, state-of-the-art oncology care with treatment options including:
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted Therapy
- Cancer vaccines
To request an appointment with Barrow Oncology, please call (602) 406-6387.
Head & Neck Cancer
Our oncology expertise extends beyond the nervous system. We have expert head and neck surgeons that specialize in:
- Surgical treatment for cancers of the mouth, tongue, jaw, esophagus, throat, nose, and sinuses
- Reconstructive and flap procedures to restore function and appearance after head and neck tumor surgery
In addition, the Barrow Head and Neck Cancer Program enlists a full complement of medical specialists who treat all aspects of head and neck cancer, including:
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Neuro-Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation specialists and physical therapists
- Medical oncologists
- Radiation oncologists
Call (602) 406-6949 to request an appointment with a Head & Neck Cancer surgeon.
Ivy Brain Tumor Center
The Ivy Brain Tumor Center was founded to provide new avenues of hope for patients and families struggling with aggressive brain tumors via advanced clinical trials. Our philosophy is to deploy scientifically rigorous and technologically eloquent clinical trials that rapidly evaluate new therapeutic regimens and are tailored to exploit and attack individual tumor characteristics.
Our mission is to help as many brain tumor patients as possible through our accelerated clinical trials. To achieve this goal, we invite patients and providers to submit a trial screening and consider entry into our early-phase clinical trial program.
Call (602) 406-6489 to speak with an Ivy clinical trials navigator.
Neuro-Oncology
The Barrow Neuro-Oncology Program has specialized expertise in the treatment of brain tumors and cancers of the central nervous system, as well as neurological complications that can arise from cancer treatment. We have subspecialty knowledge in treating all tumors of the brain and spinal cord, including:
- Gliomas
- Meningiomas
- Brain metastases
- Rare brain tumors
Our neuro-oncologists emphasize treating you as a person, not just your cancer, and put quality of life considerations at the forefront of your care.
Call (602) 406-2800 to request an appointment with a neuro-oncologist.
Neurosurgical Oncology
Have you been told that your brain tumor is inoperable? Are you unsure about the treatment plan that has been suggested for you? At Barrow, we believe second opinions are an important part of getting the best cancer treatment available.
That’s why we offer the expertise of our neurosurgical oncology team online. In most cases, you can get an opinion from one of our specialists in just five to seven business days.
Pituitary Center
The Barrow Pituitary Center provides comprehensive care to patients with disorders of the pituitary, hypothalamus, and skull base. Established in 2007, the Center is comprised of an experienced, multidisciplinary team of doctors and nurses who combine medical and surgical expertise to offer patients with pituitary diseases the most advanced level of care.
Physicians at the Barrow Pituitary Center have treated over 2,500 patients with pituitary and skull-based tumors over the past 20 years. The team emphasizes state-of the art technology, evidence-based research, and minimally invasive surgical techniques to optimize patient outcomes, improve patient comfort, and reduce hospital stay.
Call (602) 406-5954 to request an appointment with a pituitary and neuro-endocrine specialist.
Radiation Oncology
Our clinicians in our Department of Radiation Oncology treat more than 1,000 patients each year, with expertise in all forms of radiation, including:
- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
- Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)
- Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)
- Brachytherapy
- Intra-operative radiation
For some patients, radiation therapy can be a stand-alone treatment that doesn’t carry the side effects of chemotherapy or the recovery time of surgery. For others, it can be an essential part of a multipronged strategy to beat cancers using a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiosurgery, and other advanced cancer treatments.
Call (602) 406-6761 to request an appointment with a radiation oncologist.
What We Treat
Acoustic Neuroma
Astrocytoma
Brain Metastases
Colloid Cyst
Glioblastoma Multiforme
Meningioma
Metastatic Spine Cancer
Neurologic Complications of Cancer
Spine Tumors
Just to be living in Arizona and to have one of the best places in the world here that we can drive to—We're lucky.
When a doctor tells you that you only have a few months to live, most people believe it. I never did, and I think that’s partly why I’m alive today. I knew I was getting the best medical care, and I was going to be defiant and survive.
Tests, Treatments & Procedures
Cyberknife
Endoscopic Cranial Surgery
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
Neurology
Neurosurgery
Radiosurgery
Skull Base Surgery
Stereotactic Laser Ablation
Transsphenoidal Surgery
Specialists
Location
Resources
General Information
Radiation Oncology Patient Materials
Videos
Brain Tumor Survivor & Caregiver Symposium
Going the Distance: A Story of Long-Term Survivorship
Neurosurgery
Neuro-Oncology
Radiation Oncology
Grit, Grace, and Brain Tumors: An Inside Outside Perspective
Clinical Trials
Informing Health: A Guide to Healthcare Information
