Brain & Spinal Tumors

Kaweah Delta: Diagnosing & Treating Brain & Spinal Tumors in the San Joaquin Valley

A brain tumor is defined as a growth of abnormal cells in the brain or near the brain. Brain tumors can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous) and can differ in how they are formed. Some begin in the brain, while others grow in different parts of the body and then spread to the brain. A spinal tumor is a mass that grows within the spinal canal or bones of the spine. Like brain tumors, they can also be benign or malignant.

At Kaweah Delta Health Care District, we know that it can be frightening to think you have a brain or spinal tumor. That’s why we want you to know that the neurosurgeons we partner with in the San Joaquin Valley will be with you every step of the way, from diagnosis to treatment.

Brain & Spinal Tumor Symptoms

Brain tumor symptoms can vary depending on the location, size and growth rate of the tumor, and may include:

• Speech problems
• Personality or behavior changes
• Hearing loss
• Vision issues such as blurred vision or loss of peripheral vision
• Newly onset headaches
• Nausea or vomiting
• Confusion
• Gradual loss of movement or sensation in an arm or leg
• Seizures (especially in an individual without a history of seizures)

Symptoms of a spinal tumor will also depend on the location and type of tumor, but may include:

• Back pain that seems to radiate to hips, legs, feet or arms
• Difficulty walking
• Loss of bladder or bowel function
• Muscle weakness in different areas of the body
• Lessened sensitivity to heat, cold and pain
• Loss of sensation in arms or legs

Treatment Options for Brain & Spinal Tumors

When you visit Kaweah Delta with symptoms of a brain tumor, your neurosurgeon may conduct a neurological exam (which will check your vision, hearing, balance and coordination), and imaging tests, such as an MRI or a CT scan to confirm a diagnosis. In order to confirm a spinal tumor, your neurosurgeon may recommend an MRI, CT scan and biopsy to determine the correct diagnosis.

There are various treatment options that the neurosurgeons we partner with may recommend for your brain or spinal tumor, including monitoring, surgery to remove the tumor, radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery and chemotherapy.

Need a Neurosurgeon? Schedule a Consultation

At Kaweah Delta, we are here to help you in the fight against cancer. Whether you have been diagnosed with a brain tumor or spinal tumor, you can count on local neurosurgeons to provide you with state-of-the-art treatment. Schedule a consultation with your primary care doctor or click HERE for a list of neurosurgeons in the area.

In Visalia, Kaweah Delta’s surgical team and local neurosurgeons partner to provide excellent treatment of brain and spine tumors for patients from Visalia, Hanford, Tulare, Porterville, Fresno, Bakersfield and surrounding areas.