|
||||||||||||
|
Information about Brain Tumors
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. We cannot assume responsibility for its accuracy. Please, obtain information about your condition from your Doctor. The Brad Kaminsky Foundation does not endorse any service, treatment, institution or physician
Treatments
Treatment for a brain tumor depends on a number of factors. Among
these are the type, location, and size of the tumor, as well as the
patient's age and general health. Treatment methods and schedules
often vary for children and adults. The doctor develops a treatment
plan to fit each patient's needs. The patient's doctor may want to
discuss the case with other doctors who treat brain tumors. Also, the
patient may want to talk with the doctor about taking part in a research
study of new treatment methods. Such studies, called clinical trials, are
discussed in the Clinical Trials section. Many patients want to learn all
they can about their disease and their treatment choices so they can
take an active part in decisions about their medical care.
A person with
a brain tumor will have many questions, and the doctor is the best
person to answer them. Most patients want to know what kind of tumor
they have, how it can be treated, how effective the treatment is likely to
be, and how much it's likely to cost. Here are some important
questions to ask the doctor: What type of treatment will I receive? What
are the expected benefits of treatment? What are the risks and
possible side effects of treatment? What can be done about side
effects? Would a clinical trial be appropriate for me? Will I need to
change my normal activities? If so, for how long? How often will I need
to have checkups? Many people find it helpful to make a list of their
questions before they see the doctor. Taking notes can make it easier
to remember what the doctor says. Some patients find that it also helps
to have a family member or friend with them when they talk with the
doctor-- either to take part in the discussion or just to listen.
Patients
and their families have a lot to learn about brain tumors and their
treatment. They should not feel that they need to understand
everything the first time they hear it. They will have other chances to
ask the doctor to explain things that are not clear. Planning Treatment
Decisions about treatment for brain tumors are complex. Before
starting treatment, the patient might want a second doctor to review the
diagnosis and treatment plan. There are several ways to find a doctor
to consult: The patient's doctor may be able to suggest a doctor who
specializes in treating brain tumors. The Cancer Information Service, at
1-800-4-CANCER, can tell callers about cancer centers and other
NCI-supported programs in their area. Patients can get the names of
specialists from their local medical society, a nearby hospital or cancer
center, or a medical school. Treatment Methods Brain tumors are
treated with surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
Depending
on the patient's needs, several methods may be used. The patient may
be referred to doctors who specialize in different kinds of treatment and
work together as a team. This medical team often includes a
neurosurgeon, a medical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, a nurse, a
dietitian, and a social worker. The patient may also work with a physical
therapist, an occupational therapist, and a speech therapist.
Before
treatment begins, most patients are given steroids, which are drugs
that relieve swelling (edema). They may also be given anticonvulsant
medicine to prevent or control seizures. If hydrocephalus is present,
the patient may need a shunt to drain the cerebrospinal fluid. A shunt
is a long, thin tube placed in a ventricle of the brain and then threaded
under the skin to another part of the body, usually the abdomen. It
works like a drainpipe: Excess fluid is carried away from the brain and
is absorbed in the abdomen. (In some cases, the fluid is drained into
the heart.) Surgery is the usual treatment for most brain tumors.
To
remove a brain tumor, a neurosurgeon makes an opening in the skull.
This operation is called a craniotomy. Whenever possible, the surgeon
attempts to remove the entire tumor. However, if the tumor cannot be
completely removed without damaging vital brain tissue, the doctor
removes as much of the tumor as possible. Partial removal helps to
relieve symptoms by reducing pressure on the brain and reduces the
amount of tumor to be treated by radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
Some tumors cannot be removed. In such cases, the doctor may do
only a biopsy. A small piece of the tumor is removed so that a
pathologist can examine it under a microscope to determine the type of
cells it contains. This helps the doctor decide which treatment to use.
Sometimes, a biopsy is done with a needle. Doctors use a special
headframe (like a halo) and CT scans or MRI to pinpoint the exact
location of the tumor. The surgeon makes a small hole in the skull and
then guides a needle to the tumor. (Using this technique to do a biopsy
or for treatment is called stereotaxis.) Radiation therapy (also called
radiotherapy) is the use of high-powered rays to damage cancer cells
and stop them from growing. It is often used to destroy tumor tissue
that cannot be removed with surgery or to kill cancer cells that may
remain after surgery. Radiation therapy is also used when surgery is
not possible. Radiation therapy may be given in two ways. External
radiation comes from a large machine. Generally, external radiation
treatments are given 5 days a week for several weeks. The treatment
schedule depends on the type and size of the tumor and the age of
the patient. Giving the total dose of radiation over an extended period
helps to protect healthy tissue in the area of the tumor. Radiation can
also come from radioactive material placed directly in the tumor
(implant radiation therapy). Depending on the material used, the
implant may be left in the brain for a short time or permanently.
Implants lose a little radioactivity each day. The patient stays in the
hospital for several days while the radiation is most active. External
radiation may be directed just to the tumor and the tissue close to it or,
less often, to the entire brain. (Sometimes the radiation is also directed
to the spinal cord.) When the whole brain is treated, the patient often
receives an extra dose of radiation to the area of the tumor. This boost
can come from external radiation or from an implant. Stereotactic
radiosurgery is another way to treat brain tumors. Doctors use the
techniques described in the Surgery section to pinpoint the exact
location of the tumor. Treatment is given in just one session;
high-energy rays are aimed at the tumor from many angles. In this
way, a high dose of radiation reaches the tumor without damaging
other brain tissue. (This use of radiation therapy is sometimes called
the gamma knife.) Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer
cells. The doctor may use just one drug or a combination, usually
giving the drugs by mouth or by injection into a blood vessel or muscle.
Intrathecal chemotherapy involves injecting the drugs into the
cerebrospinal fluid. Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles: a
treatment period followed by a recovery period, then another treatment
period, and so on. Patients often do not need to stay in the hospital for
treatment. Most drugs can be given in the doctor's office or the
outpatient clinic of a hospital. However, depending on the drugs used,
the way they are given, and the patient's general health, a short
hospital stay may be necessary.
The Brad Kaminsky Foundation for Brain Tumor Research 20227 Catlett Place Ashburn, VA 20147 (703) 729-9897 E-mail DNL1231@aol.com |
|
|
|
|
|