health

Treatment of brain tumors depends on their grade and location. Surgery
is usually the first stage. Removing as much of the tumor as possible
helps to relieve symptoms as well as slow the growth of the tumor. Some
Grade I tumors can be completely removed by surgery.
If the tumor is located in a part of the brain where it cannot be
entirely removed by surgery without risk to the brain stem or other parts
of the brain that control sight or hearing, or if the tumor is difficult to
distinguish from surrounding healthy tissue, the second line of treatment
is usually radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy can be given before or after radiation therapy. A
newer type of chemotherapy is combined with surgery. After removing
as much of the tumor as is possible and safe, the surgeon inserts wafers
containing slow-release anticancer drugs.
Treatment for brain tumors may also include rehabilitation therapy
for physical aftereffects and supportive therapy to help the patient
manage pain and the side effects of cancer treatment.