Brain Cancer Treatment:

The treatment of the brain cancer depend on the age and health of the patient, size and location of tumour. Doctor use the surgery, radiotheraphy, chemotheraphy or steroid therapy for treat the malignant brain tumour patient. Doctor may also use the combination of this treatment. The aim of the treatment in brain tumour is remove the tumour, if possible. If not possible, reduce the size of a tumour and swelling it, so tumour put the less pressure on the brain. After the treatment, pateint will requre the regular checkup and x-ray scans for several years.

Surgery:

Surgeon can remove some tumour, if it not spread out. If the tumour have spread and removal is not posssible without damaging the other the parts of the brain then surgeon can reduce the size of a tumour by a surgery. After reducing the size of a tumour, pressure will reduce on the brain. It will improve the condition of the pateint. The operation of a brain is called craniotomy (Openinig of the skull). In this operation patient may be loss the some hair. Surgeon cut the skin and skull above the tumour and remove the tumour. After removing the tumour, surgeon replaced the skull and stitched the skin. If the tumour at back of the brain, then operation is called craniectomy. In this operation skull replacement is not required because muscles of the back neck is sufficient to support the brain. Diring the surgery doctor will do a biopsy.

Brain After the operation: First day after the opeartion, patient observed by a doctor in a ICU. If all goes normal doctor will transfer the patient to a general ward. The head of the patient will probably be bandaged and a small tube will be left under the skin to drain excess blood. The face and eyes will be swollen after the operation for a one week.

Radiotherapy:

In this treatmnet doctor uses a high energy x-rays to kill the abnormal cells. Doctor uses high enery x-rays for adult and low energy x-rays for children. It is not used for under three years childrens. For some types of brain cancer in a child, may be necessory to give the x-rays to the spine with the head. After this treatment child will not grow tall because growth of spine will be slow down. This treatmemt can also affect the pituitary gland of brain in a child. Pituitary gland can also slow a child’s growth. These children may be grow normally by a hormon therapy.

Doctor also used a radiotherapy after the surgery. The radiotherapist make a mark on the skin of patient in the area for treated. This marks is not permanent and remove after the treatment.

Side effects of radiotherapy: In radiotherapy hair will be fall out on the area of treatment. This hair will be grows but not thick like a normal hair. The skin of treatment area may be red or dry. Pateints are advised that don’t use the creams or shops on affected skill without the doctor’s permission and keep the skin out of the sun.
Headaches and tiredness are common after the radiotheraphy for a month. Periods may also be affected due to the saliva glands.

Chemotherapy:

In this treatment doctor uses a drug (cytotoxic) to kill the abnormal cells. Drug stop the abnormal cells to grow and reproduce.
This treatment is generally used in childhood but rarely used in adults. It is a course of treatment for a several weeks. Drug may be given in the form of intravenous drip. Alternatively it may be given in the form of tablets.

Side Effects of Chemotherapy: Side effects of chemotherapy depends on the drug used in treatment.

Steroid therapy:

Steroid drugs (Dexamethasone) do not use to treat the tumour but it also help in treatment of tumour. It is used to reduce the swelling of brain tumour and pressure caused by tumour. It is used either before or after the surgery or radiotherapy.

Side effects of steroid therapy: Use of steroid drug for a long time may cause the following side effects:

Appetite of patient may increase and weight will put on face, waist and shoulders.
Level of sugar will be increase in body. It can be check in urine test.
Patient may feel the weakness in muscular.
Patient may cause the water retention.
All the side effects of steroid are temporary and patient will be normal after the dose reducing of steroid. After finishing the dose, patient will be depressed for some times.
Doctor stop the dose of steroids step by step. Suddenly stop the dose may be dangerous

Brain Cancer Treatment:

Surgery:

Brain Cancer(Tumor) Category

Brain Cancer Symptoms

Brain Cancer Causes

Brain Cancer Diagnosis

Brain Cancer Treatments