What is Brain Metastases?
Brain metastases, or metastatic brain cancer, is when cancer spreads to the brain from another part of the body. Also known as secondary brain cancer, it’s much more common than primary brain cancer, which starts in the brain.
Because brain metastases is hard to treat, MSK created a new center with experts in this kind of cancer. The Multidisciplinary Brain Metastasis Center only treats people with tumors that have spread to the brain.
Where you get your first brain surgery is an important decision to make. If you need treatment right away, the Brain Metastasis Center has a care team in place.
You will meet with a surgeon and radiation oncologist (cancer doctor). You may also see a medical oncologist. These experts will evaluate you and then recommend a treatment plan that is best for you.
MSK’s team of brain tumor experts is here to help. Before your appointment, you may want to write down questions you would like to ask them, such as:
- What is brain metastases?
- How do metastatic brain tumors occur?
- What are signs and symptoms of brain metastases?
- How is brain metastases diagnosed?
- What are treatments for brain metastases?
Risk Factors for Brain Metastases
Most often, brain metastases spread to the brain after starting as these kinds of cancer:
- Lung cancer
- Breast cancer
- Colon cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Skin cancer, as melanoma