Brain Tumor & Brain Cancer Care

Expert brain tumor care, close to home in Montana

The Billings Clinic Brain Tumor Center is the first of its kind in Montana and the surrounding states. We care for people with all types of brain and spine tumors, combining advanced medicine with compassionate support. Our team includes neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation specialists, neurologists, and rehabilitation experts — all working together to provide complete care under one roof.

We partner with the Montana Cancer Consortium to bring patients access to national clinical trials, so you don’t have to leave Montana for the latest treatments.

The conditions we treat at the Billings Clinic Brain Tumor Center include

• Gliomas (including glioblastoma, astrocytoma, and oligodendroglioma)
• Primary central nervous system lymphoma (a rare brain cancer affecting the immune system)
• Ependymomas
• Medulloblastomas
• Germinomas
• Brain metastases from other cancers
• Meningiomas
• Schwannomas
• Pituitary tumors
• Other brain and spine tumors
• Genetic conditions such as:
  • Neurofibromatosis
  • Schwannomatosis
  • Tuberous Sclerosis
  • Von Hippel‑Lindau Syndrome

How we diagnose brain tumors

Getting the right diagnosis is the first step. At Billings Clinic, we use:

• MRI and PET scans
• MRI perfusion of the brain – a special MRI that shows blood flow in tumors. This advanced test is rarely available in Montana, but it is offered here.
• Biopsy and molecular testing to understand the tumor’s biology and guide treatment.
• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis for certain conditions, including primary central nervous system lymphoma and other tumors affecting the brain and spinal cord.

Brain tumor treatment options

Every patient’s plan is personalized. Treatments may include:

• Surgery to safely remove as much tumor as possible
• Radiation therapy, including precise radiosurgery
• Chemotherapy
• Targeted therapies
• Immunotherapy
• Clinical trials through the Montana Cancer Consortium and national partners

Managing brain tumor symptoms

We treat the tumor and also help patients feel better day‑to‑day by controlling:

• Seizures, headaches, and brain swelling
• Memory or thinking changes
• Pain and fatigue

Rehabilitation and supportive therapies are part of every care plan.

Ongoing care

We provide regular check‑ups and imaging to watch for changes, and we manage side effects to help patients live well during and after treatment.

Supportive care

Our team includes psychologists, social workers, and palliative care specialists. We focus on quality of life for patients and families from the very beginning.

Our team

Your care team may include:

• Doctors: neurosurgeons, neuro‑oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, neurologists
• Diagnostic experts: neuroradiologists, pathologists
• Supportive care specialists: palliative care providers, rehabilitation therapists, psychologists, social workers

Clinical trials in Montana

Through the Montana Cancer Consortium and partnerships with industry, our patients can join nationally recognized trials for brain tumors. This means access to new treatments without traveling far from home.

Why choose the Billings Clinic Brain Tumor Center?

• First and only brain tumor center in Montana
• Multidisciplinary team working together for each patient
• Advanced diagnostics like MRI perfusion and CSF analysis, rarely available in the region
• Access to national clinical trials without leaving Montana
• Patient‑centered care focused on both treatment and quality of life