May 19, 2026
Real Talk with Hurley:
Brain Tumors
You’ve got questions about brain tumors, and we’ve got the expert to answer them.
Whether you’re wondering what a brain tumor diagnosis really means, which symptoms are worth getting checked out, or what the most advanced treatment options look like close to home — Dr. Christian Bowers, Neurosurgeon at Hurley Neurological Center, sits down for an honest conversation covering the full scope of brain tumor care.
No scripts. No sales pitch. Just real answers to real questions.
Ready to meet with Dr. Bowers?
Dr. Bowers and the team at Hurley Neurological Center are here to answer your questions and guide your care.
Watch the Full Episode
Questions & Answers
Jump to a topic, or scroll through them all below.
Understanding Brain Tumors
Q1 Are all brain tumors the same, and does a brain tumor diagnosis mean it's fatal?
Most brain tumors are not cancerous — the most common type, meningioma, is benign and many people have one without ever knowing it. Even the most aggressive form, glioblastoma, now has more treatment options than ever, including surgery, six weeks of radiation, and a wearable Tumor Treating Fields device called Optune. A landmark shift came in 2016 when tumor classification moved from microscope appearance to genetic profiling, giving doctors far more precise information about how to treat each tumor.
Q2 Does every brain tumor require surgery?
No — many people have small brain tumors discovered incidentally during a scan for an unrelated reason, such as after a car accident, and never need treatment. Tumors like meningiomas or colloid cysts may simply be watched over time if they're small and symptom-free. This is also why routine full-body scans aren't generally recommended for healthy people — finding something incidental can lead to unnecessary anxiety and testing.
Q3 What's the biggest myth or misconception about brain tumors you wish people knew?
The biggest myth is that a brain tumor automatically means death — in reality, most brain lesions found are benign and don't require treatment. Even for brain cancer, advances like checkpoint inhibitor drugs and state-of-the-art radiation through Hurley's partnership with Duke Cancer Center mean patients can live far longer than historically expected. Surgeons can now safely leave portions of tumor too risky to remove and treat the remainder with targeted radiation.
Symptoms & When to Seek Care
Q4 What warning signs or symptoms should make someone go see a doctor about a possible brain tumor?
Watch for symptoms that are new, persistent, and localized — such as numbness always in the same hand, repetitive facial twitching, or weakness in one limb. New headaches that don't resolve are also worth evaluating, though the vast majority of headaches are not tumor-related. Brain tumors grow slowly enough that you're very unlikely to miss a critical window by seeking care promptly rather than rushing to the ER.
Q5 Should I start with my primary care doctor or go to the ER if I've been having headaches?
For most ongoing headaches, start with your primary care doctor, who can refer you to a neurologist or headache specialist — wait times can exceed a year, so getting in the queue early matters. Go to the emergency room only if you experience the worst headache of your life with sudden, severe onset. If your headache is gradually worsening or comes alongside neurological symptoms like numbness or weakness, seek more urgent evaluation.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Q6 What happens after someone is diagnosed with a brain tumor — what does the plan look like?
Many brain tumors are benign and are simply monitored over time with repeat imaging — typically at three months, six months, then annually — to see if they're growing. Dr. Bowers describes this as "getting to know the tumor," and says that if it's not growing or causing symptoms, patients can live comfortably alongside it for years. Even after surgery, patients are followed indefinitely since some tumors can return.
Q7 What advanced techniques does Hurley Neurological Center use to treat brain tumors?
Advances in surgical navigation and intraoperative monitoring now allow surgeons to remove more tumor more safely than ever before. Dr. Bowers also highlights progress in patient selection — including performing awake brain tumor resections on patients in their 90s who are physically robust enough to benefit. He describes this combination of new technology and genetic knowledge as the best era in history for counseling and treating brain tumors.
Why Care Close to Home Matters
Q8 Why does it matter to have brain tumor care available close to home?
Brain cancer treatment involves a relentless schedule of appointments — surgery, daily radiation for six weeks, follow-up imaging, and more — and research consistently shows that patients who live farther from treatment centers have worse outcomes. Dr. Bowers draws on his own family's experience with serious illness to illustrate how demanding that appointment load can be. Having quality care nearby isn't just convenient — it can be the difference between completing treatment or not.
The Future of Brain Tumor Care
Q9 Where do you see brain tumor treatment heading in the next 10–20 years?
Dr. Bowers sees the future in personalized medicine — matching each tumor's specific genetic profile to the treatment most likely to work for that individual patient. He illustrates how transformative genetic classification has already been, with two patients whose prognoses were completely reversed once genetic testing replaced the old visual system. The goal is ever more individualized treatment, more accurate prognosis, and ultimately a cure.
Closing remarks and how to reach Hurley Neurological Center
Ready to meet with Dr. Bowers?
Dr. Bowers and the team at Hurley Neurological Center are here to answer your questions and guide your care.
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Lisa Marie is Hurley's Digital & Grassroots Marketing Coordinator and a former mid-Michigan radio personality.