What is the treatment?

Depending on the type of tumour, its location, and the extent of its spread, the treatment may be surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. These procedures may be used exclusively or in combination. Before treatment begins, patients are usually given steroid treatment to reduce brain swelling. They may also be given medication to keep the seizures (epileptic fits) under control.

Surgery - The most common form of treatment of brain tumours is removal of the cancerous mass. The neurosurgeon makes a hole in the skull and reaches the site of the tumour through that. The procedure is called craniotomy. As far as possible, the entire tumour is removed. This is usually possible to achieve in case of benign tumours like meningiomas, neuro fibromas, etc. Gliomas on the other hand, cannot be excised completely as they do not have clearly defined limits. However, the doctor is careful not to damage any vital tissues of the brain, and thus in cases where the whole tumour cannot be removed, partial removal is done. This helps to relieve the pressure within the skull and leaves a smaller portion of the tumour to be treated through radiation and/or chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy – it is the destruction of cancerous cells with the help of powerful drugs. Drugs are usually given orally or as injections into the vein.
Radiation therapy – in this high power rays are used to kill cancerous cells and prevent them from proliferating. Radiotherapy is given for a short period of time followed by a break. The period of therapy depends on the age of the patient, the site of the tumour and its size. The radiation is given with pin point accuracy, so that the surrounding healthy brain tissue is protected