Brain cancer care in southeast Georgia and the South Carolina Lowcountry

At Memorial Health Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute (ACI), we treat patients in southeast Georgia and South Carolina’s lowcountry with non-cancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) tumors of the brain and spine.

About the Memorial Health Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute

The Memorial Health Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute is dedicated to providing the highest level of cancer care to southeast Georgia and the South Carolina Lowcountry. The ACI offers comprehensive cancer services including surgical oncology, radiation oncology and medical oncology treatment options. Central to our model of cancer care is the belief that we treat the entire patient, not just their cancer. Through this model, we also provide services to support the psychosocial and spiritual needs of our patients as they move through their cancer journey.

Personalized brain and spine tumor care

We treat patients in southeast Georgia and South Carolina’s Lowcountry with non-cancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) tumors of the brain and spine. If a tumor is found to be cancerous, our patients have access to comprehensive care through the Memorial Health Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute. Our team, which includes neuro-oncologists, radiation oncologists and medical oncologists provides personalized cancer care with the help of genetic profiling and access to the latest clinical research trials.

To learn more about our treatment services for brain and spine tumors, please call us at (800) 343-3025.

Multidisciplinary neurological services

If you are experiencing neurological symptoms, such as chronic headaches or changes in vision, you should visit with a neurological specialist. Our neurologists offer a full spectrum of services for treating conditions affecting the brain, spine and nerves. If a tumor is identified during evaluation, our multidisciplinary neurological team will provide comprehensive cancer care.

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Common brain tumor symptoms

The symptoms of a brain tumor vary depending on the size and location of the tumor. While many of these symptoms can be caused by other health problems, the following signs are often associated with brain tumors:

  • Confusion and disorientation
  • Difficulty thinking, speaking or finding words
  • Drowsiness or lethargy
  • Headaches
  • Loss of balance or difficulty walking
  • Memory loss
  • Personality or behavioral changes
  • Seizures or convulsions
  • Sensory , such as numbness or tingling
  • Vision changes
  • Vomiting or nausea
  • Weakness or paralysis in a part or side of the body

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, talk with your doctor for an accurate diagnosis of your neurological condition. They may refer you to a brain cancer specialist.

Neuroimaging for tumor diagnosis

In addition to our imaging services, patients have access to neuroradiologists who perform imaging procedures using advanced techniques. Our neuroradiologists use imaging technology to acquire highly detailed images of the brain and spine that help us form a unique treatment plan for every tumor.

Types of tumors we treat

Our oncologists and neurological specialists work together to treat many types of brain and spine tumors, including:

  • Anaplastic astrocytoma
  • Benign brain and spine tumors
  • Ependymomas
  • Gliomas, including glioblastoma
  • Malignant brain and spine tumors
  • Meningiomas
  • Metastatic brain tumors
  • Oligodendrogliomas
  • Primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphomas
  • Pituitary tumors

Brain and spine tumor treatment

We are committed to providing coordinated care, which is why our specialists collaborate in a shared setting to facilitate treatment decisions. Following diagnosis of a cancerous brain or spine tumor, patients meet with our board-certified and fellowship-trained doctors. Tumor treatment teams may include neuro-oncologists, neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists and medical oncologists.

We provide a range of advanced technologies and treatment options for brain and spine tumors, including:

  • Access to clinical research trials
  • Chemotherapy infusion services
  • Genetic profiling
  • Immunotherapy
  • Intrathecal chemotherapy infusion
  • Management of neurologic and systemic (whole body) symptoms
  • Skull base surgery
  • Targeted radiation therapies using:
    • Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT)
    • Intensity-modulated therapy (IMRT)
    • Planar and conebeam computerized tomography (CT) imaging
    • Stereotactic radiosurgery
    • Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT)
  • Wearable medical device that produces an electrical field to disrupt cellular division
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Surgically implanted radiation therapy for brain tumor

Memorial Health Anderson Cancer Institute offers a rare treatment available for brain cancer patients. A surgically implanted radiation therapy, is the insertion of tiny tiles into the brain to delay the regrowth of a brain tumor. The small tiles provide targeted radiation, limiting the damage to healthy tissue surrounding the cancer. The unique radiation treatment also reduces side effects such as brain damage or hair loss and the amount of radiation exposure to those close to the patient.

During a tumor removal surgery, the tiles are placed at the tumor site. Similar to the size of a postage stamp, the tiles immediately begin killing cancer cells. The radiation process lasts approximately six weeks and the tiles are naturally resorbed by the body.

Brain and spine cancer support services

The Memorial Health Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute is committed to providing care throughout the entire cancer journey, from diagnosis through survivorship. We offer services for long-term cancer support, including:

  • Nurse Navigation
  • Support groups
  • Nutritional services
  • Palliative care consultations