Our Neuro-oncology team is here to provide prompt, up-to-date care for all our patients who have tumors in their brain or spine.
We aim to create a treatment plan just for you, focusing on your specific needs. At the same time, we make sure everything follows the latest national guidelines (NICE) and the best medical evidence available.
Every week, we hold a specific Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meeting. All patients who might have a tumour are discussed here. This allows all our experts to agree on the best plan for your care.
Our team was recently named a Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence again. This award is given only after a meticulous review by experts from the Tessa Jowell Brain Mission.
Cutting-Edge Treatments We Offer
Our team uses the newest and smartest methods to treat brain and spine tumours. Here attached some of the advanced technology we use to make surgery safer and more successful:
Ultra-Precise Surgery
- Fluorescence-Guided Surgery: Think of this as giving the surgeon special glasses and turning on a blacklight. Before surgery, we give the patient to drink a safe dye. During the operation, this dye makes the high-grade tumours glow brightly, helping the surgeon find and remove the maximal amount of the bad tissue without causing damage to the healthy brain around it.
- Awake Surgery (Awake Craniotomy): This is a specialised operation for tumours in critical areas of the brain (like those controlling speech or movement).
The patient is kept partially awake during key parts of the surgery.
This allows the surgical team (including specialist anesthetists and psychologists) to map your brain and check functions, such as your speech and movement in real-time. This ensures we can safely remove the tumour while protecting your very important functions.
Smart Tools and Monitoring
- Intraoperative Monitoring: During the surgery, we use special devices to constantly check your nerves and brain function. If something is at risk, the monitors give us a warning right away—it's like a high-tech safety net!
- Modern Navigation Systems: This is like having an accurate GPS for the surgeon. These systems create a 3D map of your brain, guiding the surgeon precisely to the tumour.
- Neuroendoscopy: Using tiny cameras and instruments, we can operate inside the brain through very small holes, which is less invasive and can mean a faster recovery.
Non-Invasive Treatments
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS): This is a treatment that does not require cutting. It delivers highly focused beams of radiation directly to the tumour. It is extremely precise, like using a laser, and helps shrink or control the tumour without a traditional operation. This technique mainly applies to metastases (tumour that have spread from other parts of the body) but can also be used for other benign tumours.
Waiting for an appointment can be tough, so here is a clear guide on what to expect when you meet the team.
Meeting the Experts
- Booking the Date: Our secretaries will call or write to you with the date and time for your appointment. You will be meeting with your consultant and a Brain Tumour Specialist Nurse (your keyworker).
- The Chat: They will ask you lots of questions about:
- Your general health and medical history.
- The symptoms you are having now.
- Your wishes and support network
- The Plan: The team will look closely at your scan results. They will talk to you about the findings and discuss any further tests you might need.
Discussing Treatment
If Surgery is Needed: If the team thinks you need an operation, they will discuss the plan with you in detail. This includes:
- The Procedure: Exactly what the surgery involves.
- The Risks: Any possible side effects or complications (we need to be honest about these).
- You will also get written information and leaflets to take home and read.
Alternative Other Options: Any other treatment choices you have, if any.
If surgery is agreed, you will then be referred for a preoperative appointment to check your fitness for surgery and if required our anesthetic team might suggest some interventions to optimise your overall condition prior to your operation.
Getting Your Questions Answered
- Ask Away! You'll have plenty of time during the appointment to ask questions.
- Feeling Overwhelmed? It's totally normal to feel that way. If the information is too much, or if you think of more questions later, don’t worry!
- Call Your Keyworker: You can always contact your Specialist Nurse (keyworker) by phone or email. They are your main link to the team and will give you more information and answer any remaining questions or concerns.
We do not receive referrals directly from patients but from health professionals.
Referrals from Health professionals can be done via the Patient Pass portal, https://patientpass.srft.nhs.uk/website/#/login (follow the link for Neuro-oncology MDT) with all relevant clinical details and scan results, and the case will be discussed at the following week’s MDT meeting (taking place every Tuesday).
Please complete all sections of the referral form, as incomplete forms cannot be processed and will therefore be returned for completion.
This form needs to be completed even if a formal referral letter has been sent already. If you require further information, please get in touch with the MDT coordinator, Daniel Stokes, neurooncologyref@nca.nhs.uk, daniel.stokes@nca.nhs.uk
Cases that are felt to require emergency neurosurgical intervention due to critically raised intracranial pressure, rapidly progressive neurological symptoms and/or deteriorating level of consciousness referred to the neurosurgical on-call service will be transferred to Salford Royal Hospital as an emergency and managed at the discretion of the Neurosurgical on-call team.
Epilepsy action - www.epilepsy.org.uk
0808 800 5050 helpline
The Brain Tumour charity - Http://www.thebraintumourcharity.org
DVLA - www.dvla.gov.uk
Braintrust - www.braintrust.org.uk
Macmillan support
0800 808 0000 free phone helpline
www.macmillan.org.uk/abetterdeal
Can-SurviveUK - www.can-survive.org.uk
Teenage Cancer Trust - www.teenagecancertrust.org
- Neurosurgery - Awake Craniotomy with Intra-operative Functional Mapping (IOFM)
- Neuro Oncology - Use of 5-ALA Fluorescence - Guided surgery
- Neuro Oncology - Caring for your surgical wound following your craniotomy
- Neuro Oncology - Neuro Oncology Multidisciplinary Team
- Macmillan cancer information and support service-Salford
Our team brings together many different experts, including:
- Neurosurgeons, that will assess you, discuss your diagnosis and perform surgery, if required
- Neuro-oncologists who lead cancer treatment
- Specialist Nurses (CNSs), nurses with expertise in brain tumours that will become your keyworkers and support you throughout your journey.
- Neuroradiologists: Experts in brain and spinal scans
- Neuropathologists: Experts in tissue analysis
- Psychologists: who will help assessing your mood and emotional well-being
- Allied Health Professionals, i.e. physiotherapists, speech therapists etc
- Neurologists
- A dedicated MDT coordinator: who will ensure all the information is available and convey the outcome of our discussions to your family doctor.
We work closely with other leading centres like The Christie Hospital, the Geoffrey Jefferson Research Institute, and the University of Manchester. This gives us access to advanced imaging, a smooth path for your care, and access to any suitable clinical trials.
We are a very busy service with deep experience. We receive over 2,000 new patient referrals and perform about 420 operations every year.
Our Dedicated Surgeons and Nurses
We have 5 dedicated Neuro-oncology Surgeons:
- Professor Konstantina Karabatsou (Lead Clinician)
- Professor Pietro D’Urso
- Mr David Coope
- Mr Matthew Bailey
- Miss Helen Maye
You will also be supported by 5 Neuro-oncology Specialist Nurses. These nurses are often called your “keyworker.” They are the main link between you, and everyone involved in your care.
Neurooncology Specialist Nurses are:
- Alison Gilston-Hope
- Sarah Cording
- June Shaw
- Lauren Boyd
- Chantelle Davies (who supports patients with Brain metastases).
Staff, patients and families are encouraged to visit www.northcarecharity.org to find out more about how the charity supports the NCA across its hospitals and community services.
Should you wish to donate to the Neuro-oncology, which supports research projects for brain tumours, Patient support and information events, and innovative equipment. Please let your consultant or your keyworker know, and they will signpost to the relevant charity team, mentioning the specific code, CN1042 NEURO-ONCOLOGY FUND.
From Julie
You never think it will happen to you; is a common phrase I hear around any kind of illness.......though it did! In late July I was hit with a brain tumour; I was in total shock and sheer confusion! After originally thinking it was a stroke which I’m led to believe can show signs of a similar nature, I was not sure of what my outcome would be. As a person who really does suffer from health anxiety this was definitely not a place I wanted to be.
After spending a night or two in the stroke ward I was told I was being moved to another ward called H7. Now trust me when I say both these wards were exceptional, nurses doing long hours but still keeping up the moral and chatty "banter". Maintaining professionalism and a calming environment, I was visited daily by my son Luke and husband John, Luke still to this day actually says he enjoyed popping up for a brew and M&S trifles (he was amazed the hospital had an M&S) though Luke still jokes the trifles were £3.50 each.
After multiple MRI scans and meetings, we came up with a plan. This is where we met Angela, Lauren and DR Karabatsou, who in the space of my diagnosis and surgery became a Professor I believe (congratulations - well deserved)
A remarkable team doing the extraordinary daily. Any questions I had or needed clarity on Angela and Lauren were so fast to reply or organise anything I required, I felt in good hands and cannot speak highly enough about them all.
During and after the surgery which is still a little vague I do remember the constant reassuring and comfort Miss Karabatsou provided which is exactly what I needed and other patients need in that scenario. I hope she is constantly reminded of her importance to Salford Royal, and her remarkable achievements and help to people like me, thank you!
After my surgery my histology report came back which showed I had a low grade oligodendroglioma (a mouthful for me pre brain surgery!) Which as I speak today am almost back to 100%, a really fast recovery!
People are quick and more eager to criticise these days so I figured this opportunity wouldn't pass me by to give a bit of positivity back. Salford Royal from the grounds keepers, cleaning staff, parking attendants, volunteers, nurses, wards and the team who are still looking after me today you are phenomenal, a cut above the rest and myself and my family thank you!