Brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in people younger than 35 in the United States, according to oncologychannel.com. Of the 17,000 Americans diagnosed each year, almost 13,000 die. To prevent these deaths, doctors use various forms of treatment to destroy cancer cells and prevent them from spreading. Among them is radiation treatment.
External Beam Radiation
External beam radiation is generally performed on an outpatient basis. During the process, a machine is directed at the specific location of the cancer, delivering the radiation from the outside of the body. Aside from the original external radiation, the National Cancer Institute says there are two more forms as well: intraoperative radiation therapy and prophylactic cranial irradiation.
Intraoperative radiation therapy is a form of external radiation used during surgery to treat cancer that is localized and that can't be removed completely, or is considered a high risk for returning. Once the tumor is removed and the healthy tissue surrounding the cancer site is protected with shields, a single, large dose of radiation is given directly at the site of the tumor during surgery.
Prophylactic cranial irradiation is used when the doctor believes the primary cancer, such as breast cancer, may spread to the brain. In this case, she orders prophylactic cranial irradiation treatment for the brain as a preventative measure.
Internal Radiation (Brachytherapy)
During internal radiation therapy, the radiation is placed extremely close, if not directly into, the tumor. This is accomplished by using an implant, which may be a catheter, a thin wire, capsules or seeds--all of which contain radioactive material. Brachytherapy requires a hospital stay, as the implant is placed directly into the body. According to radiologyinfo.org, this type of radiation allows doctors to target the brain tumor and protect the healthy tissues that surround it.
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is an advanced form of therapy used in treating brain cancer. The dose is controlled by a computer. By using a three-dimensional image of the tumor, the doctor is able to deliver treatment precisely to the tumor itself, and to specific areas within the tumor.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Another precise form of radiation treatment, stereotactic radiosurgery delivers narrow radiation beams to the tumor site from various angles. The doctor uses either the results from an MRI or CT scan to locate the exact position of the tumor, while a computer allows him to control the dose of radiation. The patient must wear a head frame to keep his head perfectly still, ensuring the precision of the radiation.
