Brain & Spine Tumors Program
At a Glance: Our Brain and Spine Tumors Program
The Brain and Spine Tumors Program at Barrow Neurological Institute is made up of a robust, full-service cancer care team that treats benign and malignant tumors of the head and neck, brain, and spine.
It’s here that our world-class multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, head and neck surgeons, neuro-oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, speech-language pathologists, and ENT specialists offer you or your loved one the latest treatments for head and neck cancers, neurological cancers, and metastatic cancers. What’s more, all of your oncological services are provided and coordinated in one bustling center.
While some cancers and their tumors call for watchful waiting, others can require a more aggressive treatment. Yet whatever the diagnosis, we see you as a partner in care—you won’t ever be “just a patient.” Our commitment to your care is augmented by the latest advances in surgical techniques, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and diagnostic imaging. In fact, we offer state-of-the-art treatments recognized and respected around the globe, including:
- 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 accomplished team of experts take an approach that focuses on treating you, the individual—not just your cancer.
Barrow Oncology
Barrow Oncology makes up one of the largest and busiest brain tumor treatment centers in the United States—and every single day, we’re treating people just like you or your loved one with tumors of varying complexities. Our fellowship-trained oncologists excel in the treatment of metastatic cancers that have spread to the nervous system or nearby structures.
In the event you have cancer that has spread beyond your brain and spine, Barrow Oncology ensures that you can still receive excellent care without having to leave our campus. We offer precision, state-of-the-art oncology care with treatment options that include:
- 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: our multifaceted Head and Neck Cancer Program is home to surgeons who specialize in tumors of the mouth, jaw, face, nose, throat, sinuses and esophagus, as well as reconstructive procedures that restore function and appearance. Our 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
To request an appointment with a Head and Neck Cancer surgeon, please call (602) 406-6949.
Ivy Brain Tumor Center
The Ivy Brain Tumor Center at Barrow Neurological Institute was founded to provide new avenues of hope for patients and families struggling with aggressive brain tumors in advanced clinical trials.
To help as many patients as possible, our Center looks to scientifically rigorous and technologically advanced clinical trials that rapidly evaluate new therapeutic regimens tailored to attack specific tumor characteristics. You or your provider are invited to submit a trial screening for considered entry into our early-phase accelerated clinical trial program.
To speak with an Ivy clinical trials navigator, please call (602) 406-8605.
Neuro-Oncology
Our Neuro-Oncology Program specializes in the treatment of brain tumors and cancers of the central nervous system, as well as neurological complications following treatment. No matter the spectrum of care you or a loved one require, our neuro-oncologists emphasize treating you as a whole person, and our lauded team has subspecialty knowledge in treating all tumors of the brain and spinal cord, including:
- Gliomas
- Meningiomas
- Brain metastases
- Rare brain tumors
To request an appointment with one of our skilled neuro-oncologists, please call (602) 406-2800.
Neurosurgical Oncology
Have you been told your brain tumor is inoperable? Unsure about your suggested course of treatment? At Barrow, we believe second opinions are an important part of getting the best treatment possible. And it’s why we offer the expertise of our internationally renowned neurosurgical oncology team, entirely online—in most cases, you can get a specialist’s opinion in only five to seven business days. Using our secure portal, getting a Barrow Second Opinion is surprisingly simple, and you won’t have to leave the comforts of your home.
Pituitary Center
Established in 2007, the Barrow Pituitary Center provides in-depth care to patients with disorders of the pituitary, hypothalamus, and skull base.
To date, our Pituitary Center physicians have treated over 2,500 patients with pituitary and skull-based tumors. Our Center is comprised of a highly-experienced team of doctors and nurses who combine their medical and surgical expertise with evidence-based research, state-of the art technology, and minimally invasive surgical techniques to optimize your outcomes and improve your overall comfort.
To request an appointment with a pituitary and neuro-endocrine specialist, please call (602) 406-5954.
Radiation Oncology
For some patients, radiation therapy can be a stand-alone treatment without the side effects of chemotherapy or the recovery time of surgery. For others, it’s an essential part of a multipronged strategy to beat cancer.
No matter the reason for treatment, our Department of Radiation Oncology treats more than 1,000 patients every year, and our clinicians who work with all forms of radiation, including:
- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
- Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)
- Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)
- Brachytherapy
- Intra-operative radiation
To request an appointment with a radiation oncologist, please call (602) 406-6761.
What We Treat
Acoustic Neuroma
Astrocytoma
Brain Metastases
Colloid Cyst
Glioblastoma
Meningioma
Metastatic Spine Cancer
Neurologic Complications of Cancer
Pineal Cyst
Schwannoma
Spine Tumors
"When you start thinking about it—the fact that they do and it is the everyday—it gives you the utmost confidence...there’s this overwhelming peace that he’s in the best possible hands.”
"It’s probably not coincidental that the first scan that showed clear of cancer, there was a huge emotional and mental lift. It didn’t mean that I had every bit of energy back, but it gave me motivation.”
"I feel honored to be here at Barrow. You definitely feel part of a family; that they take a very strong interest in your case. Everyone's treated with such respect."
"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."
Tests, Treatments & Procedures
Cyberknife
Endoscopic Cranial Surgery
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
Head and Neck Cancer Surgery
Immunotherapy
Intrathecal Chemotherapy
Neurology
Neurosurgery
Radiation Therapy & Radiosurgery
Skull Base Surgery
Stereotactic Laser Ablation
Targeted Therapy
Transsphenoidal Surgery
Specialists
Location
Support & Wellness
Videos
Trials to Triumph: Celebrating Every Victory in Brain Cancer Treatment
Discovering New Treatments For Brain Cancer
Revolutionizing Brain Tumor Treatment at the Ivy Brain Tumor Center
Brain Cancer Breakthrough: New Clinical Trial Tests Direct-to-Tumor Method
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
