Surgery is the only option for Malignant Brain Tumors. To the remaining cancerous tissue chemotherapy or radiotherapy methods can be adapted. Although the intention is to remove the cancerous cells completely most of malignant brain tumors have a tendency to recur even after the treatment is given. The Secondary Brain tumors are the ones that spread from some other part of the body to the brain. These tumors do not have a cure apart from treating the symptoms.
Treatments:
A Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) will advise you on the treatment options and leave the choice to you to choose the treatment. It’s often confusing to decide on what sort of treatment you would want to choose. Hence, it’s better to make a list of queries you would want to discuss with your doctor prior discussing with your M.D.T.
Surgery:
Surgery is recommended based on the place and the size of the tumor. If the doctor thinks surgery is not the option for the brain tumor then the doctor would recommend other treatment options. Otherwise in most of the cases Craniotomy is the procedure adopted to remove the malignant tumor. A general anaesthesia is given followed with shaving the area of the scalp that reveals the brain and then removing the tumor and later securing them with the metal screws is how the surgery id conducted.
Radiotherapy:
A beam of high energy radiation is focused on the tumour to kill the cancerous tissue. The treatment is used for secondary tumors. The treatment will last for six weeks and is given in certain doses. The side effects remain but will get back to normalcy over a period of time.
- Hair loss
- Tiredness
- Sore skin
- Nausea
Proton Beam Therapy is also used in few cases for which you may have to take it abroad for an effective treatment.
Chemotherapy:
It’s used alongside radiotherapy or can be used as one of the treatments alone. The therapy kills the cancerous cells and sometimes used as method to improve the symptoms. It can be given in different ways.
- Temozolomide and Procarbazine are the tablets that can be given orally.
- Vincristine is an injection given into the veins directly.
- Small disc like Carmustine are implanted in the brain
Radiosurgery:
Stereotactic Radio Surgery is a treatment where high radiation is directly focused on the area of the tumor precisely without affecting the healthy cells around. The treatment and the recovery from the tumor are faster than the rest other treatments.
Treating Symptoms:
The treatment options may have side effects sometimes before, after or during the treatment.
- Anticonvulsants to prevent seizures
- Anti-emetics to prevent vomiting
- Painkillers to treat headaches
- Corticosteroids to reduce swelling in the brain.
The right treatment at the right time can save your life and at the most prolong your life. Only the best brain cancer specialists in India can guide you into the right treatment. Hence, make sure you go for a health check-up if you notice any changes in your health.