Procedures:
New techniques are now used to avoid exposing unaffected brain tissue to large amounts of radiation while delivering high does to a tumour, Refinements to external-beam radiation, which directs radiation from outside the body, have made it a precise and popular technique. Your medical team will recommend this procedure if you have a large tumour or a high-grade tumour that has infiltrated any surrounding areas. It can also prevent a recurrence of a benign tumour after surgery. Radiation is usually delivered five days a week for several weeks.
Stereostatic radiosurgery (which doesn't involve surgery, despite its name) directs intense beams of radiation at the tumour alone. An example is single-treatment gamma knife radiation, which uses several gamma rays that converge at one point on the tumour. Stereo-tactic radio-surgery is often used to treat a tumour deep in the brain or in an area where surgical removal is dangerous. If your tumour is accessible, you could be a candidate for brachytherapy, in which radioactive 'seeds' are implanted (sometimes permanently) into the tumour site. This is used for tumours that were treated by external-beam radiation but have recurred. The advantage is it affects only the tumour, with fewer side effects than standard radiation.
Medications
Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to damage or destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy is not a common treatment for brain tumours in adults, although it is more effective and used quite often in
STEROID MEDICATION
Steroid drugs are not used to treat the acutal brain tumour. Their role is to reduce the swelling that often accompanies these tumours either before or after surgery or radiotherapy. They can significantly lessen the symptoms associated with brain tumours. The side effects of steroids are usually related to the dose and the length of time they are taken. Generally steroid doses are given at the lowest level possible. Steroid side effects usually get better when the steroid medication is stopped although you should not stop the medication suddenly as that can cause problems as well.
Side effects include:
often in children with these tumours. To get past the blood-brain barrier, which protects brain tissues from toxins, these drugs have to be given either in very high does or in novel ways. If you have a high-grade cancer, your doctor may use the drugs temozolomide (Temodal), thalidomide or carmustine (BCNU). For many common brain tumours, a drug regimen called PCV (procarbazine, CCNU or lomustine and vincristine) has proved to be effective. With chemotherapy, you're likely, to experience temporary nausea and vomiting, fatigue and hair loss.
If you have a type of brain tumour without a current cure, consider clinical trials. The best (and sometimes the only) way to benefit from new approaches is to enroll in a clinical trial, an experiment of new treatments, promising research is being done on immunotherapy, gene therapy, drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors that block the growth of blood vessels in the tumour, vitamins, toxins, stem cell transplatation and more.Talk to your doctor about finding a well-designed trial with the greatest potential for you.
Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may also prescribe other medications. If a tumour is increasing pressure on your brain, you'll likely be given corticosteroids to reduce swelling. Seizures can be controlled with anticonvulsant drugs. And for pain, ask your doctor for prescription pain relievers.
MOBILE PHONES AND BRAIN TUMOURS don't appear to be connected, despite concerns over increased incidences of the tumours. In fact, researchers found more cases of brain cancer only in people age 70 and older--the least likely group to use mobile phones. Experts attribute rising numbers to better diagnostic techniques and to medical advances that allow people to live long enough to develop relatively rare diseases such as brain cancer.
Lifestyle changes
Being treated for a brain tumour is likely to sap your strenght and energy. You can help yourself by eating well. Try to have a small meal high in protein and kilojoules every hour or two. Be sure to take time for naps, because medications and other treatments can be very fatiguing. If the tumour or your treatment has caused a physical impairment, get physiotherapy, you'll be taught techniques that make it easier to go about your daily activities. And finally, dealing with any cancer is difficult emotionally, so don't hesitate to get some help. Seeing a counsellor can give you the support you need to cope more successfully with this difficult period in your life.
New techniques are now used to avoid exposing unaffected brain tissue to large amounts of radiation while delivering high does to a tumour, Refinements to external-beam radiation, which directs radiation from outside the body, have made it a precise and popular technique. Your medical team will recommend this procedure if you have a large tumour or a high-grade tumour that has infiltrated any surrounding areas. It can also prevent a recurrence of a benign tumour after surgery. Radiation is usually delivered five days a week for several weeks.
Stereostatic radiosurgery (which doesn't involve surgery, despite its name) directs intense beams of radiation at the tumour alone. An example is single-treatment gamma knife radiation, which uses several gamma rays that converge at one point on the tumour. Stereo-tactic radio-surgery is often used to treat a tumour deep in the brain or in an area where surgical removal is dangerous. If your tumour is accessible, you could be a candidate for brachytherapy, in which radioactive 'seeds' are implanted (sometimes permanently) into the tumour site. This is used for tumours that were treated by external-beam radiation but have recurred. The advantage is it affects only the tumour, with fewer side effects than standard radiation.
Medications
Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to damage or destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy is not a common treatment for brain tumours in adults, although it is more effective and used quite often in
STEROID MEDICATION
Steroid drugs are not used to treat the acutal brain tumour. Their role is to reduce the swelling that often accompanies these tumours either before or after surgery or radiotherapy. They can significantly lessen the symptoms associated with brain tumours. The side effects of steroids are usually related to the dose and the length of time they are taken. Generally steroid doses are given at the lowest level possible. Steroid side effects usually get better when the steroid medication is stopped although you should not stop the medication suddenly as that can cause problems as well.
Side effects include:
- increased appetite and rapid weight gain, especially on the face, waist and shoulders, which occasionally can cause stretch marks.
- Increased sugar levels in the blood, sometimes causing the development of diabetes.
- acne and water retention
- mood changes. Most commonly, steroids give the patient a feeling or well being, although they have also been linked with more negative mood changes.
- muscle weakness
- easy bruising
- heartburn and peptic ulcer.
often in children with these tumours. To get past the blood-brain barrier, which protects brain tissues from toxins, these drugs have to be given either in very high does or in novel ways. If you have a high-grade cancer, your doctor may use the drugs temozolomide (Temodal), thalidomide or carmustine (BCNU). For many common brain tumours, a drug regimen called PCV (procarbazine, CCNU or lomustine and vincristine) has proved to be effective. With chemotherapy, you're likely, to experience temporary nausea and vomiting, fatigue and hair loss.
If you have a type of brain tumour without a current cure, consider clinical trials. The best (and sometimes the only) way to benefit from new approaches is to enroll in a clinical trial, an experiment of new treatments, promising research is being done on immunotherapy, gene therapy, drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors that block the growth of blood vessels in the tumour, vitamins, toxins, stem cell transplatation and more.Talk to your doctor about finding a well-designed trial with the greatest potential for you.
Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may also prescribe other medications. If a tumour is increasing pressure on your brain, you'll likely be given corticosteroids to reduce swelling. Seizures can be controlled with anticonvulsant drugs. And for pain, ask your doctor for prescription pain relievers.
MOBILE PHONES AND BRAIN TUMOURS don't appear to be connected, despite concerns over increased incidences of the tumours. In fact, researchers found more cases of brain cancer only in people age 70 and older--the least likely group to use mobile phones. Experts attribute rising numbers to better diagnostic techniques and to medical advances that allow people to live long enough to develop relatively rare diseases such as brain cancer.
Lifestyle changes
Being treated for a brain tumour is likely to sap your strenght and energy. You can help yourself by eating well. Try to have a small meal high in protein and kilojoules every hour or two. Be sure to take time for naps, because medications and other treatments can be very fatiguing. If the tumour or your treatment has caused a physical impairment, get physiotherapy, you'll be taught techniques that make it easier to go about your daily activities. And finally, dealing with any cancer is difficult emotionally, so don't hesitate to get some help. Seeing a counsellor can give you the support you need to cope more successfully with this difficult period in your life.
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