| Brain tumors, also known as brain cancer, start within | | | | Treatment for brain tumors depends on a number of |
| the substance of the brain, spinal cord or nerves. | | | | factors including the type, location and size of the |
| Some tumors which arise from the brain or spine | | | | tumor as well as the patient's age and general health. |
| coverings (meninges) are also considered primary | | | | Treatment methods and schedules differ for children |
| brain tumors. Metastatic brain tumors have spread | | | | and adults. |
| from cancer in other parts of the body, most | | | | Brain tumors are treated with surgery, radiation |
| frequently from the lungs, breast and colon. | | | | therapy and chemotherapy. Our doctors also are |
| Causes | | | | studying a vaccine for treating a recurrent cancer of |
| Primary brain tumors arise from many types of brain | | | | the central nervous system that occurs primarily in |
| tissue (for example, glial cells, astrocytes, and other | | | | the brain, known as glioma. |
| brain cell types). Metastatic brain cancer is caused by | | | | Radiation therapy |
| the spread of cancer cells from a body organ to the | | | | Radiation therapy uses beams of high-energy |
| brain. However, the causes for the change from | | | | particles, such as X-rays, to kill tumor cells. Radiation |
| normal cells to cancer cells in both metastatic and | | | | therapy can come from a machine outside your body |
| primary brain tumors are not fully understood. Data | | | | (external beam radiation), or, in very rare cases, |
| gathered by research scientists show that people | | | | radiation can be placed inside your body close to your |
| with certain risk factors (situations or things | | | | brain tumor (brachytherapy). |
| associated with people that increase the probability | | | | Chemotherapy |
| of developing problems) are more likely to develop | | | | Chemotherapy, the use of drugs to kill cancer cells, is |
| brain cancer. | | | | sometimes used to treat brain tumors. The drugs |
| Symptoms | | | | may be given by mouth or by injection. Either way, |
| Symptoms produced by brain tumors depend on their | | | | the drugs enter the bloodstream and travel |
| location, size, rate of growth and stage. Some | | | | throughout the body. The drugs are usually given in |
| nonmalignant brain tumors that grow slowly can | | | | cycles so that a recovery period follows each |
| become quite large before producing symptoms | | | | treatment period. |
| because there often is no swelling of the brain | | | | Chemotherapy may be given in an outpatient part of |
| tissues. However, if because of their size or location, | | | | the hospital, at the doctor's office, or at home. |
| they cannot be easily removed, they can be as life | | | | Rarely, the patient may need to stay in the hospital. |
| threatening as malignant brain tumors. | | | | |