Brain Cancer Treatment

Primary Brain Cancer

It originates in the brain or central nervous system. According to the National Brain Tumor Society, there are more than 120 types of brain and central nervous system tumors. Some of the most common primary brain tumors, according to the origin of the cells, are:

• Glioma

  Gliomas, which arise in glial cells, cause about 3 out of 10 cases of brain cancer. Among gliomas types, astrocytoma is the fastest-growing brain cancer. Other types of gliomas tumors include oligodendrogliomas and glioblastomas.

• Meningioma

  Meningioma grows from cells that surround the brain and spinal cord. According to National Cancer Institute, meningioma is the most common primary brain tumor.

• Ganglioglioma

  Ganglioglioma is a type of tumor that grows slowly in neurons and glial cells and is usually treated with surgery.

• Craniopharyngiomas

  Craniopharyngioma tumor grows slowly in between the pituitary gland and brain. It usually impinges on the optic nerve causing vision difficulties.

• Germ Cell Tumors

  During fetal growth, germ cells help form different parts of the body. However, if germ cells migrate to the brain, they can develop into tumors. Some germ cell tumors are yolk sac tumors, teratomas, germinomas, and embryonal carcinomas.

• Pineal Tumors

  Pineal tumors develop in the deep areas of the pineal gland region. Pineal tumors may block the cerebrospinal fluid and cause hydrocephalus. Various types of pineal tumors are pineal parenchymal tumors of intermediate differentiation, pineocytomas, and pineoblastoma.

Secondary or Metastatic Brain Cancer

It occurs when cancer originates in other areas of the body, spreads to the brain, and is more common than primary brain cancer. Cancer of the lungs, colon, kidney, and breast can spread to the brain. The prognosis for metastatic brain cancer depends on the growth rate of cancerous cells. Some common secondary brain tumors are:

• Lymphoma Brain Cancer

  Lymphoma develops from the lymphatic system (part of the immune system) and can spread from other body parts to the brain. Primary lymphoma brain cancer starts in white blood cells in the brain.

• Melanoma brain Cancer

  Melanoma starts in the melanin cells of the skin and spreads rapidly via lymph nodes to the brain, which is called melanoma brain cancer.

• Medulloblastoma

  According to research, medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor found in children under 15 years of age. It grows at the base of the skull, and the growth rate depends on the mutation of tumor cells.

• Chondrosarcoma

  It is an aggressive type of bone cancer that arises from the cartilage of the spine, skull base, pelvis, arm, knee, and thighbone - that can reach the brain.

1. Brain Cancer Surgery

Surgical procedures are the most common brain cancer treatment options. The procedure depends on the tumor's size, location, and accessibility. There are many surgical approaches for the removal of a brain tumor:

• Craniotomy: A craniotomy is a surgery where a skull piece is temporarily removed to allow surgeons access to the brain.

• Awake brain tumor surgery: When a tumor is adjacent to vital structures like nerves, then patients are sedated but kept awake during surgery so surgeons can confirm that normal brain functions are not affected.

• Neuroendscopy: To minimize scarring and for better reach in some regions of the brain, surgeons use other parts of the body (such as the nose) to enter the brain.

• Neuroplastic surgery: After invasive procedures, the neurosurgical approach repairs and maintains the skull's appearance and anatomy.

• MRI-Guided Laser Ablation Laser and Interstitial Thermal Therapy: It is a minimally invasive procedure where computer imaging locates the tumor. Then cancerous cells are precisely focused on and destroyed with heat or lasers.

2. Radiation Therapy for Brain Cancer

Radiation for brain cancer uses high ionizing rays to destroy cancer cells that are otherwise inaccessible by surgery.

• External beam radiation treatment for brain cancer: It is the most common usage of radiotherapy for this type of tumor, where the tumor and nearby tissues or the entire brain are exposed to high-intensity radiation. Whole-brain irradiations treat metastatic brain cancer when multiple small metastatic foci are spread across the brain.

• Stereotactic radiosurgery: Small and more focused X-ray beams are used to target and destroy the tumor cells while sparing healthy surrounding tissue. It is often used to treat inaccessible brain tumors.

3. Chemotherapy for Brain Cancer

Chemotherapy (chemo) for brain cancer is a treatment that uses medicines to kill cancer cells and is often used along with surgery and radiotherapy. Surgeons may surgically implant chemotherapy drugs in the form of wafers to bypass the blood-brain barrier and deliver the drug specifically to areas in the brain affected by cancer.

4. Targeted Drug Therapy

Targeted drug therapy explicitly targets specific cell proteins that stop cancer growth. It causes fewer side effects as it spares healthy cells because of its specific action. It is often combined with radiotherapy and surgery to treat metastatic brain cancer.

5. Tumor-treating Fields

Tumor-treating field sends painless electrical impulses on the skin of the scalp to disrupt the division of tumor cells. It acts on specific cell proteins required for cell division and tumor growth. The portable device with a small backpack is continuously used by the patient while carrying out their daily activities.