The Hermelin Brain Tumor Center at Henry Ford has long been a national leader in brain tumor therapies and advanced research.
The Hermelin Brain Tumor Center's mission is to provide new hope through research and state-of-the-art therapies, and to turn life-threatening brain tumors into a chronic, controllable disease like diabetes.
The Center was founded in honor of David Hermelin, who was a vital businessman and philanthropist in Michigan and a U.S. Ambassador to Norway. When Hermelin was diagnosed with brain cancer and treated at Henry Ford Hospital, his family and friends donated $10 million to help advance brain tumor research and speed the translation of research discoveries into new therapies.
This support has led to better understanding of the genetics of brain tumors, why and how the tumor cells grow, and to the development of therapies matched to each patient's brain tumor genetics for the best chance at recovery.
The Hermelin Brain Tumor Center offers guaranteed patient appointments with a neurosurgeon or neuro-oncologist within 24 hours. Within the same week, a comprehensive treatment plan is designed and tailored to the needs of the patient and family. We provide immediate access to brain tumor patients at any point during their care process -- from second opinions to comprehensive care management, surgery or primary postoperative care.
Diagnosis Brain tumors, like people, each have their own fingerprint and come in many different shapes, sizes, characteristics, and origins. The key to treatment planning involves accurate diagnosis of tumor type and design of therapies aimed at that specific tumor type.
The Hermelin Brain Tumor Center provides a wide range of diagnostic tests preoperatively, intraoperatively and postoperatively:
pathology and genetic analyses of brain tumor tissue
magnetoencephalography (MEG)
3-T MRI functional mapping to help define exactly where the tumor is in relation to the patient's eloquent brain centers
electroencephalography (EEG)
Wada studies
neuropsychological assessments
speech-language evaluations
3D-MR spectroscopy and 3D neuro-imaging for intraoperative guidance
neural monitoring of the brain and spinal cord during tumor resections
awake craniotomies with speech and motor function brain mapping to provide the safest surgery with maximum tumor removal while preserving quality of life functions
Treatment Planning Every Wednesday, the Henry Ford brain tumor team meets to discuss each patient's diagnostic studies, any past or current therapies, and current medical state to thoroughly evaluate and plan the course of treatment for each patient. This weekly multidisciplinary conference is one of the busiest in the nation and includes 20 medical professionals from different specialties.
