Neuro-oncology

About the service

The service covers patients residing from South Durham in the north, to Thirsk in the south, and Whitby in the east. It is supported by the neuro-surgical service with its own high dependency unit (HDU), a specialist oncological service and a dedicated neuro-rehabilitation unit.

Diagnosing and treating a primary brain or CNS (central nervous system) tumour is complex and requires a team of experts; this team is called a multi-disciplinary team (MDT).

The team is made up of health professionals that includes: neuro-surgeons, oncologists, neurologists, radiologists, pathologists, specialist nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and neuro-psychologists, who are all experts in caring for patients with a primary brain or CNS tumour.

The service cares for patients from diagnosis and then with life-long follow up.

Meet the neuro-oncology team

Understanding primary brain tumours

A primary brain tumour is a tumour that starts in the brain. The brain controls how we think, feel, learn and move. It also controls other important things in the body, such as breathing and heart rate. The brain is protected by the skull.

Macmillan offers information on symptoms, causes, diagnosis, grading and treatment.

The grade of a brain tumour describes how abnormal the cells look under a microscope. Your doctor will use the information about the grade along with results of molecular markers (biomarkers). This can help them to understand how quickly a tumour may grow, and how best to treat it.

Low-grade tumours usually grow slowly and may not cause symptoms for a long time.

High-grade tumours grow faster than low-grade tumours.

Macmillan also have separate information about tumours that start somewhere else in the body and spread to the brain. These are called secondary brain tumours or brain metastases.

How diagnosis affects your right to drive

Following diagnosis and treatment for a brain tumour, most people will not be allowed to drive for a period of time. If you drive, it is important to discuss with your doctor how your diagnosis and treatment for a brain tumour affects your right to drive.

If you have a driving licence, you must tell the DVLA that you have been diagnosed with a brain tumour. Macmillan have more information about how a brain tumour may affect your right to drive.

Steroid information for brain tumours

Corticosteroids (steroids) are naturally occurring hormones produced by your body’s adrenal glands. Steroids are vital in helping you to function normally in your daily activities. This leaflet below guidance on steroid treatment and their potential side effects.

Steroid information for brain tumours

Treatment for brain tumours

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to destroy the tumour cells and control the tumour, while doing as little harm as possible to normal cells. Radiotherapy machines are designed to limit the damage to healthy brain tissue.

Chemotherapy

Temozolomide is a chemotherapy drug used to treat certain types of brain tumour, such as gliomas and anaplastic astrocytomas. Temozolomide comes in capsules, so you can take it at home.

PCV is a combination of 3 chemotherapy drugs. It is named after the initials of the drugs used:

P – procarbazine
C – CCNU also called lomustine
V – vincristine

You have PCV in the chemotherapy day unit. A chemotherapy nurse will give it to you.

Dietary advice if you are on PCV

Procarbazine can cause a reaction when you have foods and drinks that contain a chemical called tyramine. Food and drinks containing tyramine can cause a reaction during treatment with procarbazine, and for two weeks after treatment ends.

This reaction can make you feel sick and cause headaches, sweating, drowsiness and breathing problems. This reaction is not common, but if you notice these symptoms contact the hospital for advice.

It is best to avoid: