Brain Tumors Specialist
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Nova Neuroscience
Bülent Yapicilar, MD
Neurosurgery & Cerebrovascular, Spinal, and Brain Tumor Neurosurgery located in Tyson Corner, Vienna, VA & Woodbridge, VA
When you develop the early signs of a brain tumor, such as recurrent headaches that become more frequent and severe, you can depend on receiving comprehensive care from Bülent Yapicilar, MD, at Nova Neuroscience in Vienna and Woodbridge, Virginia. With fellowship training in skull base and vascular surgery, Dr. Yapicilar draws on his extensive neurological experience to diagnose the cause of your symptoms and develop an individualized treatment plan that’s best for your brain tumor. If you have questions about your symptoms or you’d like to schedule an appointment, call one of the offices or use the online booking feature today.
Brain Tumors Q & A
What type of brain tumor might I develop?
Well over 100 types of brain tumors have been identified, yet they’re all classified as either primary or metastatic.
Primary brain tumors
Primary brain tumors can be malignant or benign (noncancerous). These tumors arise from brain cells or from the nerves and blood vessels in your brain. Primary tumors may invade the surrounding area, but they rarely metastasize to other areas of your body.
Metastatic brain tumors
Metastatic brain tumors, the most common type of intracranial tumor, are caused by cancer that originates in your body and then spreads to your brain. For example, at least 40% of people with lung cancer develop a brain tumor when their lung cancer metastasizes.
What symptoms develop due to a brain tumor?
The location and size of your brain tumor determine your symptoms. Additionally, some symptoms are specific to certain tumors. For example, an acoustic neuroma affects the nerve carrying signals from your ear to your brain. As a result, it causes hearing loss and balance problems.
The general symptoms caused by brain tumors include:
- Headaches
- Seizures
- Fatigue
- Mood swings
- Vision loss
- Double vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Memory loss or confusion
- Nausea and vomiting
- Difficulty swallowing
- Numbness or weakness on one side of your body
Headaches are one of the earliest symptoms. You may find that you have severe or more frequent headaches, or that your headaches are worse in the morning.
How are brain tumors treated?
Dr. Yapicilar develops an individualized treatment plan based on the type, location, and grade of your brain tumor. Whenever possible, he surgically removes the tumor by performing a craniotomy or minimally invasive surgery.
Dr. Yapicilar’s fellowship training in skull base and vascular neurosurgery makes him highly qualified to remove tumors located deep in the skull, behind your nose or eyes. Skull base tumors demand exceptional surgical skills because they grow close to critical nerves and blood vessels.
You may need radiation therapy after surgery to eliminate any lingering tumor cells. Radiation therapy is also used as a primary treatment when surgery isn’t a good option.
Some patients receive chemotherapy after their radiation treatment or together with radiation, especially in cases where the tumor has returned. One of the newest brain tumor treatments, called targeted therapy, uses customized medications that target your tumor’s genes.
If you need compassionate and experienced treatment for a brain tumor, call Nova Neuroscience or schedule an appointment online.
