Types of Treatments
Multidisciplinary team
In brain tumor care, different types of doctors often work together to create a patient’s overall treatment plan that combines different types of treatment. This is called a multidisciplinary team and can include
- Neuro-oncologists
- Medical oncologists
- Radiation oncologists
- Surgeons
- Nurses
- Social workers
- Rehabilitation therapists
- Neuro psychologists
Surgery
Surgery is when people remove the tumor and surrounding the tissue. Surgery is the oldest treatment used to treat brain cancer and is still used many times today. Surgery can also be used to diagnose cancer as well.
Radiation therapy
The goal of radiation therapy is to destroy the cancer cells without harming the healthy cells. Radiation therapy can also be used to shrink tumors and reduce pressure, pain and other symptoms of cancer when it is impossible to completely destroy the cancer.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is when doctors who treat cancer use drugs to the cancer cells. The drugs are used to destroy cancer cells by stopping their ability to grow and divide. The medication instantly circulate the bloodstream to damage the cells that are actively growing. Damage to healthy cells are unavoidable.
Side effects
Surgery
- Increase in current symptoms
- Damage to normal brain tissue
- Brain swelling
- Seizures
- Dryness
- Itching
- Blistering
- Peeling
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Hair loss
- Loss of energy
- Reddish and darken skin
If treatment fails
Treatments don't always work and if it doesn't the disease may be called advanced or terminal brain tumor. People with advanced brain tumors are most likely going to have less than 6 months to live. Most people with advanced terminal brain tumor usually have hospice care. Hospice care is when people try to provide the best possible life for the person who have only a few months to live.