| A Glioma is a form of cancer that begins in the brain | | | | radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Surgery is the |
| or spine. It is called a glioma because it occurs from | | | | basis of glioma treatment and absorbs removing as |
| glial cells. These brain tumors comprise the | | | | much of the glioma as possible, while trying to |
| astrocytomas, ependymomas and oligodendrogliomas. | | | | minimize damage to healthy tissue. Some tumors can |
| These tumors are the most common main brain | | | | be removed completely, and others only moderately |
| tumors. Astrocytomas, ependymomas and | | | | or not at all. The radiation therapy is in the form of |
| oligodendrogliomas are conversed separately. Primary | | | | outside beam radiation or the stereotactic approach |
| glioma brain tumors arise at a rate of 12.8 per | | | | using radio surgery. Spinal cord tumors can be treated |
| 100,000 people. Although people of any age can | | | | by surgery and radiation. Temozolomide is a |
| expand a brain tumor, the problem appears to be | | | | chemotherapeutic drug that is able to cross the |
| most common in children ages 3 to 12 and in adults | | | | blood-brain barrier effectively and is being used in |
| ages 40 to 70. | | | | therapy. |
| Symptoms of gliomas depend on which part of the | | | | Steroid medications may be required to decrease |
| central nervous system is affected. A brain glioma | | | | swelling and inflammation of brain tissue. |
| can cause headaches, nausea and vomiting, seizures, | | | | Anticonvulsants medications may be prescribed to |
| and cranial nerve disorders as a result of augmented | | | | assist prevent or manage seizures. In brachytherapy, |
| intracranial pressure. A glioma of the optic nerve can | | | | materials that produce radiation (radioisotopes) are |
| cause visual loss. Spinal cord gliomas can cause pain, | | | | placed directly into the tumor to demolish tumor cells |
| weakness, or numbness in the extremities. Brain | | | | from the inside (internal radiation therapy). |
| tumors can be challenging to treat, but many are | | | | Chemotherapy, drugs taken by mouth or |
| treated successfully. Also, new technology helps | | | | intravenously, can assist kill tumor cells. Sometimes, |
| physicians target tumors more precisely. The | | | | chemotherapy-coated wafers are placed in the space |
| treatment of a brain stop glioma depends upon the | | | | left after a tumor has been detached to try and |
| characteristics of the individual tumor. | | | | prevent recurrence. Many gliomas are treated with a |
| Treatment is a mutual approach, using surgery, | | | | combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. |