Treatment Options
Surgery
Surgery is often used as a treatment for spinal tumors when there is an acceptable risk of nerve damage. Newer techniques and instruments allow our surgeons to reach tumors that were once inaccessible. Stamford Hospital is known for expertise in minimally invasive surgical techniques for the treatment of cancer. Benefits of minimally invasive procedures include less pain, less blood loss and less need for blood transfusions. Moreover, it can result in a shorter hospital stay, a quicker recovery and faster return to normal daily activities.
Radiosurgery
Stamford Hospital offers patients CyberKnife® Radiosurgery at it's new Cyberknife Center, the first in the region. Cyberknife is a form of stereotactic surgery, a "knifeless" technique that destroys spinal tumors without making an incision. A CT or MRI scan is used to pinpoint the exact location of the spinal tumor. High-energy radiation beams are trained on the tumor from different angles to destroy the it. The advantages of "knifeless" procedures are that they have fewer complications and the recovery time is much shorter.
At Stamford Hospital, stereotactic surgery for tumors of the brain and spine are done with the aid of the Stealth Frameless Stereotactic Navigation System, which gives the surgeon a virtual computer model of the patients brain that is used like a GPS system to ensure a safe and accurate resection of a tumor. Unlike other radiosurgery systems this system does not require patients to be fitted with a rigid and invasive head frame.
Chemotherapy
Progress has been made in the use of chemotherapy for cancer patients. Systemic chemotherapy is often given to advanced disease patients, and is being used more frequently as post-operative adjuvant therapy. We also offer targeted chemotherapies that result in fewer side effects for patients.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is often an important component of spine cancer treatment. It can serve as an alternative to surgery, be used in conjunction with chemotherapy, and can also be effective in relieving specific symptoms.
In some instances, radiation therapy is employed simultaneously with chemotherapy, or in sequence with it. The newer targeted therapies, given either with chemotherapy or as single agents, have added to the overall effectiveness of cancer treatment.
For more information or to make an appointment please call
1-877-233-WELL (9355).