Treatment of Brain Cancer

Treatment of brain tumors usually includes surgery, radiation therapy, systemic chemotherapy. However, the median survival of primary brain tumor patients after surgery and radiotherapy was 9 months and approximately 10% of patients survived for 2 years (Orive, Ali, Anitua, Pedraz, and Emerich, 2010). Ultimately, brain tumors cause approximately 13,000 deaths annually in the United States (Greenlee, Murray, Bolden, and Wingo, 2000). Limited tumor cell drug uptake, intracellular drug metabolism, and cellular resistance mechanisms have prevented the progress of brain tumor therapy (Orive, Ali, Anitua, Pedraz, and Emerich, 2010).

Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are the major treatment categories of most brain tumors. Personal treatment plan usually includes a combination of these treatments. Surgical treatment attempts to remove all tumor cells by excising the tumor from normal brain tissue. This procedure, including opening the skull (craniotomy), is often referred to as an invasive procedure to distinguish it from noninvasive radiosurgery or radiotherapy as described below. Some brain tumors are called surgery by the surgeon, as it may lead to further brain damage and death if you try to remove cancer. However, brain tumors that are called surgical inoperable by the surgeon can be considered operable by other surgeons. Patients diagnosed with inoperable brain tumors should consider seeking a second opinion before surgical treatment is discontinued.

Individual treatment plan for each brain tumor patient. Treatment planning is established by a doctor specializing in brain tumors and the treatment method varies greatly depending on the type of cancer, the position of the brain, the size of the tumor, the age of the patient, and the patient's general well-being. The main part of the plan also depends on the patient's wishes. The patient needs to discuss medical options and treatment options. Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are the major treatment categories of most brain tumors. Personal treatment plan usually includes a combination of these treatments. Surgical treatment attempts to remove all tumor cells by excising the tumor from normal brain tissue. This procedure, including opening the skull (craniotomy), is often referred to as invasive surgery to distinguish it from non-invasive radiosurgery or radiotherapy as described below.