Brain and Spine Cancer Program at Providence Cancer Institute of Orange County
At Providence Cancer Institute of Orange County, you're not just choosing one provider — you're getting an extensive community of care.
Our multidisciplinary, neuro-oncology care teams focus on the diagnosis and treatment of tumors of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. You’ll be treated by neuro-oncologists, radiation oncologists, neurosurgeons, neuro-radiologists and endocrinologists. Our team of board-certified neuro-oncologists, across our three nationally accredited cancer programs, bring their expertise together to collaborate on comprehensive, personalized treatment plans.
You'll also be supported by expert genetic counselors, rehabilitation specialists and oncology nurse navigators to guide you through the entire process.
Brain and Spine Cancer Program at Providence Cancer Institute of Orange County
At Providence Cancer Institute of Orange County, you're not just choosing one provider — you're getting an extensive community of care.
Our multidisciplinary, neuro-oncology care teams focus on the diagnosis and treatment of tumors of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. You’ll be treated by neuro-oncologists, radiation oncologists, neurosurgeons, neuro-radiologists and endocrinologists. Our team of board-certified neuro-oncologists, across our three nationally accredited cancer programs, bring their expertise together to collaborate on comprehensive, personalized treatment plans.
You'll also be supported by expert genetic counselors, rehabilitation specialists and oncology nurse navigators to guide you through the entire process.
Brain and Spine Cancers We Treat
Our neuro-oncology program treats patients with every type of brain and spinal cancer, including:
- Astrocytoma
- Glioma
- Glioblastoma
- Meningioma
- Metastatic brain tumors
- Pituitary tumors
- Pseudotumor cerebri
- Schwannoma
- Skull-base tumors
- Spinal tumors
Meet Our Expert Cancer Team
At the Providence Orange County Cancer Institute, our multi-disciplinary team is committed to providing expert care to every patient. We work together to deliver a personalized approach to prevention and treatment, supporting you at every stage. With our collaborative expertise, you receive dedicated guidance and compassionate support throughout your journey.
Testing and Diagnostics
Our state-of-the-art diagnostic services help us select the therapies that will work best for you based on factors like cancer type and the tumors’ genetic or molecular profile.
Your care team might use several different tools and procedures to help determine your treatment plan, including:
An FNA biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure where a thin needle is inserted into a sensitive area to withdraw cells that can be tested, helping to provide more accurate diagnoses and treatment plans.
MRI is an advanced digital imaging method that uses a harmless magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed pictures of the body.
An iMRI is used during a surgical procedure to help guide neurosurgeons as they're removing brain tumors or treating other neurological conditions like epilepsy.
A PET scan is a nuclear imaging procedure that uses a combination of computer technology and a radioactive imaging agent called a tracer to produce clear, high-resolution images of the body and its various functions in real-time and in 3D. They allow doctors to evaluate a wide range of conditions – including brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and a variety of cancers – and provide more accurate diagnoses, targeted treatments and better outcomes for our patients.
The StealthStation™ S8 navigation platform combines advanced imaging with tracking technology to provide surgeons with greater accuracy and precision during complicated procedures like brain surgery. It also helps avoid damage to healthy tissue, leading to faster recovery times for patients.
Services and Treatments
Your treatment always depends on your specific diagnosis, but you'll make shared treatment decisions alongside your loved ones. Together, we’ll build an individualized care plan, using advanced therapies and innovative technology to treat your cancer.
We offer many different therapies across our Providence locations. Your treatment plan at Providence Cancer Institute of Orange County will likely include a combination of the ones listed below.
Medical oncology uses systemic therapies that travel through the bloodstream to treat cancer that has spread to other areas of the body or has a high risk of spreading. Sophisticated genetic analysis allows some of these therapies to target specific DNA mutations that cause cancer cells to develop and grow.
Adjuvant chemotherapy is treatment given after your main therapy, often surgery, to help destroy any cancer cells that may still be in the body. The goal is to lower the chance of cancer recurrence.
Immunotherapy boosts or restores the body’s natural defenses. Cellular therapies, stem cell transplants and biologic therapies use your own cells to fight disease and support recovery.
You receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy before your main treatment to help improve outcomes. Starting treatment earlier can sometimes shrink a tumor, make surgery less complex or lower the risk of cancer spreading. For some patients, it may also help reduce long-term side effects or lower the risk of complications, especially if lymph nodes are involved.
Surgical therapies involve an operation or procedure to remove cancer from the body. Surgery may be the main treatment for some invasive cancers, but it’s only one part of the entire treatment plan.
Brain and nervous system resection is surgical removal of tumors or tissue of the brain or other parts of the nervous system.
LITT is a minimally invasive surgery that uses a small laser to destroy diseased brain tissue such as tumors. This procedure may be an option for patients with recurrent or hard-to-reach brain tumors who aren’t candidates for conventional surgery.
It offers targeted treatment with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue, reduced pain and a shorter recovery time.
NeuroBlate is a surgical ablation tool that uses heat to help destroy brain tumors. It allows surgeons to make a smaller incision than traditional open surgery, which can lead to faster recovery times for patients.
Neuroendoscopy is an advanced, camera-assisted surgery to examine the skull, brain and spine. The surgeon may also take tissue samples for testing.
Radiation is effective in killing cancer cells and shrinking tumors. It can be used alone or in combination with other cancer treatments.
Alternating electrical fields is a minimally invasive treatment that uses a set of electrodes on the body to deliver low-energy electric currents to a targeted area. This mild current disrupts cancer cells’ growth while protecting healthy tissue.
IMRT and VMAT are advanced types of radiation therapies:
- IMRT uses advanced technology to manipulate the radiation beams to conform to the shape of a tumor.
- VMAT is a subtype of IMRT in which the machine actively delivers radiation beams while moving in an arc around the patient.
The arc-based therapy provided via VMAT delivers high doses of radiation to more focused areas, reducing side effects, toxicity and harm to vital organs and the overall treatment time.
Learn more about intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
Interventional radiology is a minimally invasive procedure guided by radiologic imaging. This approach may be used to implant a port or vascular access device to obtain diagnostic material, remove fluid from the chest or abdomen or deliver treatment locally.
3DCRT uses 3D planning and CT imaging to better target tumors and cancerous areas and improve the outcome of radiation treatment. It also limits the damage to healthy tissue, potentially decreasing risks like infection and minimizing side effects.
Learn more about three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT)
SGRT/SIGRT uses real-time beam guidance and surface-recognition technology to target tumors, reducing side effects and harm to vital organs. This therapy can be used in conjunction with IMRT and VMAT to help guide your positioning during treatment and account for any involuntary movement, making it less invasive and potentially more comfortable for you.
This non-invasive treatment adapts and groups adaptations of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) together – like stereotactic ablative radiation (SABR) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) – to accurately deliver very high doses of radiation to different parts of the body, including the brain.
The number of radiation treatments is minimal, ranging from one to five treatments over only one or two weeks.
Patient Resources & Support
Get a second opinion from our world-class cancer experts, so that you can make important decisions about your treatment plan and move forward with confidence. Our web page will walk you through the next steps and let you know how to prepare for your appointment.
Are you looking for a clinical trial, either for yourself or a patient? Currently, Providence Cancer Institute of Orange County is involved in over 100 ongoing clinical trials.
We offer comprehensive support services – including oncology nurse navigators, transportation services and financial counseling – to help you and your loved ones throughout your cancer journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. Even if you’ve been given an initial recommendation for treatment, getting a second opinion about your diagnosis is a reasonable option – and we're here to help.
Yes, we encourage your family members and loved ones to be involved in your care and know as much about your treatment plan as possible.
To help you and your care team focus during appointments, we just ask that only one family member or loved one accompany you at a time. We have additional support services available for them as well.
Many people assume that if you’re joining a clinical trial, other treatment options have failed, but that’s not always the case. Your care team may know of clinical trials that offer promising, innovative therapy options that are best suited to treat your cancer type. Your participation in a clinical trial also offers a way to help others by advancing cancer research. If you’re curious, you don’t need to wait. Ask your care team as many questions as you need to, as soon as you’d like.
We’re proud to offer a variety of clinical trials with the most advanced types of therapies – right here in Orange County.
Our Providence Transfer Center makes it easy to get care where you need it. Available 24/7, it’s a single point of contact for incoming transfers from any of our facilities.
All it takes to get started is one phone call from your physician. Because we’re a community of care within the Providence network, this single call takes care of all transfer arrangements and logistics.
The Providence Cancer Institute of Orange County is made up of three nationally accredited programs:
- Leonard Cancer Institute at Providence Mission Hospital Mission Viejo
- Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment at Providence St. Joseph Hospital, Orange
- Crosson Cancer Institute at Providence St. Jude Medical Center, Fullerton
With locations throughout Orange County, you will always have access to leading-edge care close to home.
Yes, our support services at Providence Cancer Institute of Orange County include financial navigation to help ease your way through financial concerns and barriers.
Our staff can help you:
- Evaluate insurance health plans to ensure the right choices are made for your care
- Leverage available programs and services, such as co-pay assistance and patient assistance programs to help reduce financial barriers
- Optimize external assistance programs, such as patient financial support programs
Your oncology nurse navigator can refer you to a social worker, who can connect you with financial support as needed.
An oncology nurse navigator is a nurse or registered clinician who personally guides you from diagnosis through survivorship. They are your advocate, here to provide support and reassurance tailored to your needs – whether that's occasional conversations or daily check-ins.
Your navigator can coordinate your appointments, speak directly with your primary care physician, provide support to lower your stress, talk to your loved ones and help you access all the resources that you need.
Not necessarily. Palliative care isn’t just hospice care. Palliative care offers additional support alongside your treatment, and it can start as soon as you’re diagnosed. It helps you define treatment goals, manage symptoms and improve your overall quality of life.
With palliative care, you get support managing pain, symptoms and side effects from your cancer treatment. Your palliative care team also helps you deal with physical and emotional stress, spiritual needs and more.
You have the option to incorporate palliative care into your treatment plan right from the start, which can help keep you comfortable and receive the extra support that you need.