Tumor Surgery (Brain)
Tumor surgery is an effective medical treatment of
brain tumor. The process of tumor surgery is usually
complicated and the period is long. The course of treatment
depends on several factors including age, physical health
of the body, the size, type and location of the tumor.
Brain Cancer Surgery
The chief end of brain cancer surgery is the confirmation
of the presence of tumor in the brain and removal of
it. The surgeon first, identifies the type of the tumor
and then proceeds with the procedure. The surgical treatment
of tumor cures the symptoms in case of benign tumors.
Stereotactic surgery is a knifeless technique of cancer
treatment that kills the tumor but does not open the
skull. MRI or CT scan locates the position of the tumor
inside the brain. From different angles, highly energetic
radiation beams fall on the brain tumor and destroys
it. This method is often known as “gamma knife”.
The advantage of Stereotactic surgery is that it involves
fewer complications and the period of recovery is shorter.
Procedures and treatments before surgery
A steroid drug like dexamethasone is given to patients
to prevent swelling. Anticonvulsant drugs like carbamazepine
may be given to prevent seizures. If the patient gets
the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated around the brain,
a shunt is placed to have the fluid drained. A shunt
is a thin tube made of plastic. The shunt is with two
ends. One end is pushed into the cavity to collect fluid
while another is placed in the other segment of the
body.
Brain Cancer Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy consists of the intake of antibacterial
drugs to destroy tumor cells. Chemotherapeutic drugs
are taken by an IV line or mouth. Some medications are
prescribed to drain excessive fluid from the brain.
Chemotherapy is taken in cycles. A cycle is a short
and intensive period of treatment that is followed by
a stage of rest and recovery. Each cycle may last for
a few weeks. A chemotherapy course is completed in two
of four cycles with a break to see its healing effect.
The side effects of brain cancer chemotherapy are vomiting,
nausea, appetite loss, mouth sores and hair loss.
New Brain Cancer Treatments
Clinical trials for the treatment of brain cancer are
virtually available. Clinical trails include new therapies,
which are more effective and curative than present therapies
with fewer side effects. People who have fallen prey
to brain cancer are eligible for clinical trails.
Recovery
Essentially, it the type of surgery conducted and condition
of the patient before operation that decides his/her
recovery. However, in most general case, which involves
surgery of the upper section of the brain, it requires
the patient to stay in the hospital for nearly 3 to
4 days after the surgery, and in case of an operation
on the lower brain, the patient has to stay at hospital
for one or two days more. The doctors encourage the
patients to get back to their normal life as quickly
as possible. In most cases, people start going to work
within two to three weeks after their stay at hospital
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