Center for Neuro-Oncology

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The Center for Neuro-Oncology offers state-of the-art treatment for patients with brain tumors, spinal cord tumors, and neurologic complications from cancer. Our specialists work to ensure you receive coordinated treatment and support. We focus on helping you cope with your illness and maintain the quality of your life.

The Center for Neuro-Oncology offers the latest advances in care for adult patients with tumors of the brain or spinal cord, as well as for neurologic complications of cancer and its treatments. Treatment for brain cancer is complex, and treatment planning requires involvement from many subspecialists including neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists and medical oncologists. Through our multidisciplinary clinic, patients have the benefit of meeting with our team of surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists at one time and in one place to develop individualized treatment plans.

Conditions We Treat

We focus on treating both common and rare brain tumors, including glioma, glioblastoma, oligodendroglioma, astrocytoma, meningioma, lymphoma, brain metastases, and medulloblastoma. See the many types of brain and spinal cord tumors that we treat.

Learn how we diagnose and treat brain tumors

Learn about our Brain Metastases Program

Learn about our CNS Lymphoma Center

Learn about our Spinal Tumor Program

Treatment and Research

Our clinicians are experts in treatment options that include precise neurosurgical techniques, radiation therapy that targets tumors while sparing surrounding tissues, and a variety of chemotherapy and molecular drugs targeting your type of cancer.

You may also benefit from our research program. As we search for new, more effective treatments, we are able to offer our patients access to a range of clinical trials for various types and stages of brain and spinal cord cancers.

Our research is dedicated to advancing brain tumor diagnosis and treatment. Learn more about our research and treatment in the key areas of immunotherapy, cancer genetics/genotyping, and targeted therapies/precision cancer medicine.

Or approach to compassionate care centers on the individual needs of our patients and their families. Our team members work closely together to ensure that you receive carefully coordinated treatment and support. We focus on helping you cope with your illness and maintain the quality of your life.

You and your family are key members of the care team. While we understand your illness, you understand your own body. We welcome your questions and value your participation as we make decisions together.

Signs and Symptoms of a Brain Tumor

What are signs of a brain tumor? Dana-Farber's Eudocia Quant Lee, MD shares common symptoms to look out for and explains how tumors may affect the brain in different ways.

Education and Resources for Patients

Save the date:
January 27, 2024
GROW Support Symposium
Sponsored by Glioma Specialists Reaching Out With (GROW) Support

This daylong in-person event will include a mock multidisciplinary “brain tumor board” with providers across disciplines giving updates on current approaches to lower-grade and IDH-mutant glioma management. Clinical and scientific updates, plus presentations on symptom management, supportive care, and other survivorship issues. Registration info coming soon! Questions? Email dfcigrowsupport@dfci.harvard.edu.

Neuro-Oncology Wellness (NOW) Webinar – Brain Metastases

October 25, 2023: "Brain Metastases"
Elisa Aquilanti, MD, and Eudocia Lee, MD, MPH, discuss the diagnoses and treatment of brain metastases, and address questions from viewers.

    October 11, 2023: "Exercise for Brain Cancer Patients Part II"
    With L. Nicolas Gonzalez Castro, MD, PhD

    September 27, 2023: "Exercise for Brain Cancer Patients Part I"
    With L. Nicolas Gonzalez Castro, MD, PhD

    September 5, 2023: "Neuro-Oncology Wellness (NOW) Webinar - CNS Lymphoma"
    Lakshmi Nayak, MD, and Ugonma Chukwueke, MD, MPH, discuss CNS Lymphoma and address questions from viewers.

    August 16, 2023: "Neuro-Oncology Wellness (NOW) Webinar – IDH-mutant Gliomas"
    L. Nicolas Gonzalez Castro, MD, PhD, and Gilbert Youssef, MD, discuss IDH-mutant gliomas and address questions from viewers.

    July 18, 2023: “Neuro-Oncology Wellness (NOW) Webinar – Glioblastoma”
    L. Nicolas Gonzalez Castro, MD, PhD, and David Reardon, MD, Clinical Director at the Center for Neuro-Oncology, discuss glioblastoma and address questions from viewers.

    June 29, 2023: "Neuro-Oncology Wellness (NOW) Webinar – Brain Tumor Symptoms"
    Dr. Eudocia Quant Lee and Dr. J. Ricardo McFaline Figueroa discuss brain tumor symptoms and their management.

    Septiembre 16, 2021 (September 16, 2021): "Conversaciones en Neuro-oncologia – Tumores Cerebrales" ("Neuro-Oncology Conversations – The Diagnosis and Management of Brain Tumors")
    El Dr. J. Ricardo McFaline-Figueroa discute el diagnóstico y tratamiento de los tumores cerebrales con el Dr. Nicolás González Castro y responde preguntas de la audiencia. (Dr. J. Ricardo McFaline-Figueroa discusses the diagnosis and management of brain tumors, and answers questions from viewers. )

    June 17, 2021: "Neuro-Oncology Conversations – CNS Lymphoma"
    Dr. Lakshmi Nayak discusses CNS lymphoma and answers questions from viewers.

    May 27, 2021: "Neuro-Oncology Conversations – Brain Metastases"
    Dr. Eudocia Quant Lee discusses brain metastases and how they are treated. Viewers' questions answered.

    April 22, 2021: "Neuro-Oncology Conversations – Research on Immunotherapy for Brain Tumors"
    Dr. David Reardon discusses how the immune system works, and how immunotherapy may be used for brain tumors.

    March 15, 2021: "Neuro-Oncology Conversations – Brain Tumor Clinical Trials"
    Dr. Patrick Wen discusses what clinical trials are, why they are important, and how they are used in the treatment and research of brain tumors. Viewers' questions answered.

    Feb. 12, 2021: "Neuro-Oncology Conversations – Brain Tumor Symptoms"
    Dr. Ugonma Chukwueke discusses brain tumor signs and symptoms, and answer questions from viewers.

    Services and Support at Dana-Farber

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    Becoming Our Patient

    As a new Dana-Farber patient, find answers to questions about your first visit: what to bring, how to find us, where to park, and how to prepare.

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    Support Services and Amenities

    We offer a wide range of services, from financial planning to creative arts to spiritual counsel, to support our patients through their cancer experiences.

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    How Our Patients Rate Dana-Farber

    See patient satisfaction survey results for different Dana-Farber locations collected by Press Ganey, an independent company experienced in patient satisfaction surveying.

    Read Our Neuro-Oncology Patients' Stories