Treatment Options

Typically, a medical oncologist will review the medical history of a patient with a brain tumor and perform a full diagnostic evaluation. Treatment plans are then based on the patient's specific diagnosis. The decision of which treatment is most appropriate involves an entire neurosurgery team for the patient including: a neurosurgeon, pathologist, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, psychologist, rehabilitation therapist and other cancer experts across a variety of disciplines.

The following therapies are treatment options that may be used depending on the type, size and location of the tumor:

• Surgery
• Immunotherapy
• Patients who are battling cancer are usually considered to be immunocompromised 
• This therapy uses the body's immune system to fight cancer in a special way. Learn more
• Chemotherapy
• Involves the use of anticancer drugs to stop or slow the growth of cancerous cells in the body
• More information regarding the different types of chemotherapy and how it may be administered may be found here.
• Radiation
• Uses energy which is targeted to a specific area to shrink tumors
• Click here for more information and to learn about the different types of radiation
• Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery
• A non-invasive surgery option compared to traditional neurosurgery
• Does not use a knife, drugs or weeks of radiation so it is easier for patients to return to everyday living

Therapies may be used alone, or in combination with  one another.

The Cancer Treatment Center reports these common side effects during treatment:

• Nausea
• Hair loss
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Increased risk of infection (from low white blood cell counts)
• Fatigue (from low red blood cell counts)
• Easy bruising and bleeding (from low blood platelet counts)

A patient's health care team will work with them during treatment. The care team will monitor pertinent blood labs and help manage side effects from the treatment. One of the main goals is to maintain the best quality of living possible while the patient is enduring difficult cancer treatments.

Sources:

Gamma Knife. (n.d.). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://www.legacyhealth.org/health-services-and-information/health-services/for-adults-a-z/cancer/all-cancer-services/radiation-oncology/gamma-knife.aspx

How we treat cancer. (2014, January 1). Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://www.cancercenter.com/how-ctca-treats-cancer/