A Team Approach
At the University of Virginia, we believe in offering patients and their families a full spectrum of innovative, advanced treatments within a coordinated, team-based approach dedicated to maximizing quality of life. The team—which can include individuals representing the fields of surgery, medical oncology, pathology, nursing, social work, clinical psychology, nutrition, education, and more—works to care for patients, to achieve higher cure rates and longer survival, and to chart the course of treatment for patients.
In addition to treating a patient's medical needs, the Neuro-Oncology Team assesses and treats various problems—such as changes in memory, speech, personality or emotions-resulting from the tumor or treatment. The team also helps with related difficulties such as re-entering the job force, school issues, disability, health-insurance concerns, or psychological distress. As we work together, we seek to draw from the collective experience of experts to create a multidisciplinary plan of care that is uniquely tailored to the patient.