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Neuro-Oncology University of Washington Medical Center |
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Neuro-oncology Team
Our neuro-oncology team includes several physicians, nurses, a social worker, and a patient care coordinator. The physicians on the neuro-oncology team include neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologists and radiation oncologists. The neurosurgeon is the physician who performs an operation to biopsy or remove the tumor from your brain. He is a specialist in the surgical treatment of brain tumors. The neuro-oncologist is the physician who provides medical care for patients who have brain tumors and who prescribe chemotherapy for the treatment of brain tumors, should that be indicated. He is a specialist in the medical treatment of brain tumors. The radiation oncologist is the physician who plans and prescribes the radiation treatment of brain tumors. He is a specialist in radiation therapy for brain tumors. The neuro-oncology nurses is a specialist in providing care to patients who have brain tumors. The nurse should be called whenever you have medical questions or concerns about your diagnosis, surgery, radiation treatment, or chemotherapy or whenever you have questions about any symptoms or problems you may be experiencing. Nurses are your advocates. They can help you reach the physician, interpret information that has been given to you by physicians and other health care professionals, and can also help you access other individuals who can assist you, such as the social worker, dietitian, rehabilitation therapists, neuropsychologists, and visiting nurse services. The patient care coordinator schedules initial appointments with the neurosurgeon or neuro-oncologist and works with them to schedule any surgical procedures needed. The staff at the front desk of the Cancer Center facilitates your care at the University of Washington Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center by assisting you with appointments for CT or MRI scans and other diagnostic tests, and contacting other medical services (such as the eye clinic, dermatology, etc.) to arrange for consultations that your physician requests. The social worker provides counseling to patients and family members who face a serious illness. They are available to help you deal with the emotional and psychological impact of your illness and to help you find coping strategies for managing stressful changes you may experience. They can provide support and reassurance as you deal with the unfamiliar systems and procedures of a large medical center. They can also direct you to resources you may need. Many other individuals are available to assist you during your treatment and follow-up care at our facility. These include nursing assistants in the clinic, nurses in the radiation area and in the chemotherapy room, radiation treatment technicians who are experts in administering your radiation treatment as prescribed by the radiation oncologist, and nurses on the in-patient units who will provide your care during hospital stays. We are fortunate to have a staff with many years of education and experience who have developed a high level of expertise in caring for patients with brain and spinal cord tumors.
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