Ben and Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment

2296.6 miles away
206-320-2300
Fax: 206-320-8149
Mon - Fri: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Ben and Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment

Mon - Fri: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

As a premier brain tumor treatment center, The Ivy Center combines the expertise of a highly specialized team to care for all brain and spine tumors. Your team will consist of:

  • Neurosurgeons whose primary focus is brain tumor surgery
  • Neuro-oncologists specializing in the medical management of brain tumors
  • Neuro-radiation oncologists with access to the latest radiation tools
  • Neuro-pathologists who examine tumor specimens every day and determine an accurate diagnosis
  • A medical staff specially trained in the post-operative care of brain tumor patients
  • Neuro-radiologists who specialize in reading and interpreting CT and MRI studies
  • An Integrative Clinical Social Worker who provides support services for patients and their families

Your entire team is housed within the Ivy Center so you can get the care you need quickly. In our single location, you can also access any treatment you need, from Gamma Knife radiosurgery to the latest clinical trials. It’s difficult to receive a brain tumor diagnosis, but we strive to make the treatment as easy as possible for you and your loved ones.

Diagnosing brain tumors

You might already have a brain tumor diagnosis before coming to our center. However, additional tests can tell us more about how the brain tumor is affecting you, what type of tumor it is and what treatments might be best for you. To learn about your tumor, we will use tests such as:

  • A neurological exam that tests your reflex, coordination and more
  • An MRI or CT scan of your brain
  • Minimally invasive needle biopsy Surgical brain biopsy

During a biopsy, we’ll remove a small amount of tissue from your brain. We will take the tissue to our on-site laboratory where a neuropathologist will be able to tell if your tumor is cancerous or benign.

Treatment options

At The Ben & Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment, we provide the best treatment options that current medical technology has to offer. Your neuro-oncologists will tailor a treatment plan specifically for you using the latest treatments available, including:

  • Computer and image-guided brain surgery 
  • Gamma Knife and CyberKnife radiosurgeries     
  • Chemotherapy
  • Biologic therapy
  • Promising clinical trials

Neurosurgeons at The Ben & Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment are highly skilled. In fact, we have been able to remove tumors from about 85 percent of the patients who come to us – many of whom have been designated as "inoperable" by other facilities.

 

Brain cancer research at The Ben & Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment focuses on:

  • Helping people in treatment today live longer and fuller lives
  • Improving treatment outcomes in the future
  • Finding a cure for brain cancer

Through our world-class research center, we collaborate with the nation’s leading cancer researchers, partner with biotech companies, and conduct clinical trials on promising new brain cancer treatments. Our clinical trials give you more treatment options than ever before and an opportunity to improve how brain tumors are treated in the future.

The Swedish Neurofibromatosis clinic is a multidisciplinary specialty and research center for adults and older teenagers with neurofibromatosis 1 and 2 and other genetic nervous system tumor syndromes.

When you come to your first appointment at the Ivy Center, you’ll meet with your brain tumor specialist who will review your imaging and test results with you. We will talk with you about the next steps in your treatment process, including our personalized treatment recommendations.

You should bring these items to your first appointment:

We’ll also talk to you about resources in the community, such as support groups, that can help you with this difficult diagnosis.

After you or a loved one is diagnosed with a brain tumor, you may feel overwhelmed. Our support group can help you discuss your feelings and find ways to cope with your diagnosis. We offer a support group and gathering for our patients via Zoom each month.

Patient and Caregiver Support Group
First Tuesday of every month
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Patient and Caregiver Casual Gathering
Third or fourth Wednesday of every month
1 - 2:30 p.m.

These groups can provide valuable support and knowledge from others facing a similar situation. For more information, please contact: Ivy Center Social Work at 206-320-8288.