Diagnosis of Brain Cancer
Brain cancer that originates in the brain is called a primary brain tumor. If a doctor suspects a brain tumor, one of the first steps in getting an accurate diagnosis is through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This imaging test gives physicians an extraordinary view of the brain and this is often the only test needed to identify the possible presence of brain tumor. In some limited cases, a CT scan may used. PET scans, which help doctors see the activity of the brain, may help diagnosis primary brain cancer but their use is less certain with a metastatic disease.
Ultimately, it is a brain biopsy that confirms the malignancy and type of brain tumor present. If tumors are present as shown on an MRI and a person suffers from a type of cancer that is known to metastasize, then a biopsy may not be necessary. However with types of cancer that don't often spread to the brain, a biopsy is a vital diagnostic tool. Primary brain tumors most always require a biopsy. Brain biopsies can be done during times of surgical exploration or open surgery. The sample tissue can be examined in the operating room, allowing the surgeon to make a decision about whether to proceed with surgical treatment or not. More extensive evaluation of the tumor specimen will also be done by a pathologist. It may take several days to receive results. In some of the cases, a closed biopsy, also called a stereotactic biopsy, is performed when the tumor is located in a region of the brain that is difficult to reach. It is the least invasive type of biopsy, but does carry risk.
Treatment of Brain Cancer
A treatment plan is individualized for each brain cancer patient. The treatment plan is constructed by the doctors who specialize in brain cancer, and treatments vary widely depending on the type of cancer, brain location, tumor size, patient age, and patient's general health status. A major part of the plan is also determined by the patient's wishes. The patient should discuss their health care provider about treatment option.
Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are the major treatment categories for most brain cancers. Individual treatment plans often include a combination of these treatments. Surgical therapy attempts to remove all of the tumor cells by cutting the tumor away from normal brain tissue. This surgery is often termed invasive surgery to distinguish it from noninvasive radiosurgery or radiation therapy described below.
Radiation therapy attempts to destroy tumor cells by using high energy radiation focused onto the tumor to destroy the tumor cells' ability to function and replicate. Radiosurgery is a non-surgical procedure that delivers a single high dose of precisely targeted radiation using highly focused gamma-ray or x-ray beams that converge on the specific area or areas of the brain where the tumor is located, minimizing the amount of radiation to healthy brain tissue. Equipment used to do radiosargery varies in its radiation source; a gamma knife uses focused gamma rays, and a liner accelerator uses photons, while heavy-charged particle radiosurgery uses a proton beam.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy attempts to destroy tumor cells using chemicals (drugs) that are designed to destroy specific types of cancer cells. There are many chemical agents used; specific drug therapies are numerous, and each regimen is designed for the specific type of brain cancer and individualized for each patient. For example, bevacizumab ( Avastin) is a drug approved for treatment of glioblastomas. Chemotherapy can be administered intrathecally (by a surgically placed permanent reservoir in the brain), by lumbar puncture, by IV administration, and biodegradable chemically impregnated polymers. All treatments attempt to spare normal brain cells.
Other treatment options can include immunotherapy (immune cells directed to kill certain cancer cell types), steroid to reduce inflammation and brain swelling, and hyperthermia ( heart treatments) . These may be added on to other treatment plans.
Clinical trials [treatment plans designed by scientists and physicians to try new chemicals or treatment methods ob patients] can be another way for patients to obtain treatment specifically for their cancer cell type. Clinical trials are part of the research efforts to produce better treatments for all disease types. Stem cell treatments for brain and brain stem cancers and other conditions can be available because research with patients is ongoing using these potential therapies. The best treatment for brain cancer is designed by the team of cancer specialists in conjunction with the wishes of patients.
Brain cancer that originates in the brain is called a primary brain tumor. If a doctor suspects a brain tumor, one of the first steps in getting an accurate diagnosis is through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This imaging test gives physicians an extraordinary view of the brain and this is often the only test needed to identify the possible presence of brain tumor. In some limited cases, a CT scan may used. PET scans, which help doctors see the activity of the brain, may help diagnosis primary brain cancer but their use is less certain with a metastatic disease.
Ultimately, it is a brain biopsy that confirms the malignancy and type of brain tumor present. If tumors are present as shown on an MRI and a person suffers from a type of cancer that is known to metastasize, then a biopsy may not be necessary. However with types of cancer that don't often spread to the brain, a biopsy is a vital diagnostic tool. Primary brain tumors most always require a biopsy. Brain biopsies can be done during times of surgical exploration or open surgery. The sample tissue can be examined in the operating room, allowing the surgeon to make a decision about whether to proceed with surgical treatment or not. More extensive evaluation of the tumor specimen will also be done by a pathologist. It may take several days to receive results. In some of the cases, a closed biopsy, also called a stereotactic biopsy, is performed when the tumor is located in a region of the brain that is difficult to reach. It is the least invasive type of biopsy, but does carry risk.
Treatment of Brain Cancer
A treatment plan is individualized for each brain cancer patient. The treatment plan is constructed by the doctors who specialize in brain cancer, and treatments vary widely depending on the type of cancer, brain location, tumor size, patient age, and patient's general health status. A major part of the plan is also determined by the patient's wishes. The patient should discuss their health care provider about treatment option.
Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are the major treatment categories for most brain cancers. Individual treatment plans often include a combination of these treatments. Surgical therapy attempts to remove all of the tumor cells by cutting the tumor away from normal brain tissue. This surgery is often termed invasive surgery to distinguish it from noninvasive radiosurgery or radiation therapy described below.
Radiation therapy attempts to destroy tumor cells by using high energy radiation focused onto the tumor to destroy the tumor cells' ability to function and replicate. Radiosurgery is a non-surgical procedure that delivers a single high dose of precisely targeted radiation using highly focused gamma-ray or x-ray beams that converge on the specific area or areas of the brain where the tumor is located, minimizing the amount of radiation to healthy brain tissue. Equipment used to do radiosargery varies in its radiation source; a gamma knife uses focused gamma rays, and a liner accelerator uses photons, while heavy-charged particle radiosurgery uses a proton beam.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy attempts to destroy tumor cells using chemicals (drugs) that are designed to destroy specific types of cancer cells. There are many chemical agents used; specific drug therapies are numerous, and each regimen is designed for the specific type of brain cancer and individualized for each patient. For example, bevacizumab ( Avastin) is a drug approved for treatment of glioblastomas. Chemotherapy can be administered intrathecally (by a surgically placed permanent reservoir in the brain), by lumbar puncture, by IV administration, and biodegradable chemically impregnated polymers. All treatments attempt to spare normal brain cells.
Other treatment options can include immunotherapy (immune cells directed to kill certain cancer cell types), steroid to reduce inflammation and brain swelling, and hyperthermia ( heart treatments) . These may be added on to other treatment plans.
Clinical trials [treatment plans designed by scientists and physicians to try new chemicals or treatment methods ob patients] can be another way for patients to obtain treatment specifically for their cancer cell type. Clinical trials are part of the research efforts to produce better treatments for all disease types. Stem cell treatments for brain and brain stem cancers and other conditions can be available because research with patients is ongoing using these potential therapies. The best treatment for brain cancer is designed by the team of cancer specialists in conjunction with the wishes of patients.
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