If you have brain cancer, you need a doctor with outstanding knowledge and skills, like David Kornguth, MD, of Golden Gate Cancer Center in the SoMa (South of Market) neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Dr. Kornguth was an assistant professor at the world-leading University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He has co-authored several key papers on stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for metastatic cancer and has published academic articles on reducing side effects from radiation when treating brain cancer. Call the practice’s office in the Mission District today to find out more, or fill in the online form to schedule a consultation.

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What is brain cancer?

Brain cancer is the growth of a malignant tumor in or on your brain. It develops as a result of some of your brain cells mutating, which causes them to multiply, often rapidly, and prevents natural cell death.

There are several different types of brain tumors, some of which are benign (noncancerous). Other brain tumors are malignant (cancerous).

Primary brain tumors start in your brain or skull. Metastatic tumors spread to your brain from cancers in other parts of your body, such as your lung, breast, colon, kidney, or skin, via your bloodstream.

Your risk of brain cancer is higher if you smoke tobacco or undergo radiation exposure. However, many cases of brain cancer have no apparent cause.

What symptoms does brain cancer cause?

Some common symptoms of brain cancer include:

  • Headaches
  • Weakness
  • Seizures
  • Personality changes
  • Confusion
  • Speech problems
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Lethargy
  • Imbalance
  • Vision problems
  • Loss of hearing

Brain cancer doesn’t always cause symptoms. You might only discover you have brain cancer during tests for other conditions or a routine checkup.

How is brain cancer treated?

Potential treatments for your brain cancer include:

Surgery

In some patients, it might be possible to remove a brain tumor either entirely or partially. Samples of the cancerous tissue can also be removed for testing at the lab.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. Side effects are a common problem with chemotherapy, so although effective, this treatment can be hard to tolerate.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is the use of intense energy beams from sources like X-rays or protons to kill brain cancer cells. Dr. Kornguth has considerable expertise in the use of cutting-edge radiation therapy technologies. These include advanced targeting equipment and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).

Dr. Kornguth delivers your radiation therapy using Varian’s Halcyon™ platform. Halcyon uses image-guided volumetric intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) technology that minimizes the dose of radiation and ensures exact targeting.

The result is an increase in effectiveness with reduced risk of harm to the surrounding healthy tissues.

How do I know what treatment to have?

Dr. Kornguth creates a personalized treatment plan for every patient with brain cancer. Your plan takes into account the type of tumor you have, its location in your brain, and its size.

Dr. Kornguth also prioritizes each patient’s preferences, letting you guide the direction of treatment after you have all of the relevant facts. His focus is on optimizing your quality of life and educating you about your options and choices.

Call Golden Gate Cancer Center today to find out more or book an appointment online.