7 Healthcast: Real-life drama

On the drama, "Crossing Jordan," medical examiner Jordan Cavanaugh is understandably nervous as she is about to have surgery for a benign brain tumor -- a meningioma.

The show takes place in Boston, and neurosurgeon Peter Black says Boston is also where the only center for meningiomas is located at Brigham & Women's Hospital.

"We've been able to build an interest in these tumors into a very substantial group that tries to look at the treatment, education and research into meningiomas," Dr. Black said.

Jordan experienced many symptoms common to a meningioma such as seizures, vision problems and severe headaches. Dr. Black says no one is sure of the exact cause of this type of tumor.

"We know women get them more than men. We know that previous radiation, for example, childhood radiation... we know there's something about hormones that we don't quite understand about it," Dr. Black said.

Dr. Black says many people do well after surgery, but there is always a fear of death or of becoming incapacitated after surgery, which is something Jordan is dealing with.

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