The National Cancer Institute estimated that 22,020 brain tumor cases would occur in 2010 in the United States. Brain cancer falls into two categories: primary and secondary. With primary brain cancer, the malignant tumor starts in the brain. Patients with a secondary brain cancer have another cancer elsewhere in their bodies. Once the doctor determines the type of brain cancer, she can recommend an appropriate treatment.
Diagnosis
Before starting treatment, the doctor will need to perform certain tests. MedlinePlus notes that the doctor will do a scan of the patient's head, such as a magnetic resonance imaging scan or a computerized axial tomography scan, which will show the location of the brain tumor. The doctor may also do a chest X-ray or a CT scan of another area of the body to find the primary tumor. Once the doctor finds the tumor, she can perform a biopsy, where she takes a sample of the tumor and tests it. The doctor may test the cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds the brain, for the presence of cancer.
Considerations
When deciding which treatment to undertake, the doctor takes certain factors into consideration. For example, the National Cancer Institute recommends considering the size and the location of the tumor. The type and how advanced the tumor is also affects which treatment the doctor will use. The patient's age and general health are other considerations when deciding the proper treatment.
Treatment Options
The National Cancer Institute points out that three main treatment options for brain cancer exist: radiation, surgery and chemotherapy. With radiation, the doctor uses high-energy X-rays to destroy the cancerous cells. Chemotherapy uses a combination of drugs to kill the cancerous cells, though they can also affect normal cells. Patients can take chemotherapy as an injection, oral medication or as an implant in the brain. With surgery, the doctor opens the patient's skull, a procedure called a craniotomy. After opening up the skull, the doctor removes as much of the tumor as possible, then replaces the opening with bone or metal.
Order of Treatment
The treatment that a brain cancer patient receives depends on her specific type of cancer. The National Cancer Institute notes that surgery is usually the first treatment for brain cancer. If a patient cannot have surgery, she can have radiation. Radiation can also follow surgery. MedlinePlus adds that chemotherapy can occur along with surgery or radiation.
Medication
MedlinePlus notes that brain cancer patients may take medications to manage some of the symptoms. For brain swelling, patients can take urea or mannitol, which are osmotic diuretics, or dexamethasone, a corticosteroid. If patients have seizures, they can take evetiracetam. Histamine blockers and antacids can manage stress ulcers. The doctor may prescribe pain medications to some patients.
