Introduction

• According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 51,410 cases of brain and central nervous system cancers are diagnosed each year. According to the American Cancer Society, an additional 12,470 people will die from brain cancer in the same year. Brain tumors, regardless of whether they are malignant or not, are a serious health threat. As brain tumors grow, they place pressure on different areas of the brain. This can cause the brain to stop functioning, including the areas of the brain responsible for life-sustaining actions such as heart beat and breathing. Luckily, there are treatment options available for brain cancer. The options have various success rates depending on the method of treatment and the type and stage of cancer.
  
  

Surgical Removal

• The most common form of brain cancer treatment is the surgical removal of the tumor. This involves cutting the tumor off from its blood supply and removing it completely from the body. This is usually done soon after the cancer has been found to prevent it from doing any permanent damage to the brain. Depending on where the tumor is located in the brain, surgery may be too dangerous, and other options may need to be considered.
  
  

Radiation

• The next option to consider for brain cancer treatment is radiation. Radiation can be done either externally or internally. External radiation involves specialized equipment that direct a beam of concentrated radiation at the affected area. The radiation removes part of the cancer cells' DNA and makes it unable to grow and reproduce. Internal radiation involves pellets or wires that are implanted in or around the brain. The implanted device emits a specific range of radiation that kills all cancer cells within its radius.
  
  

Chemotherapy

• Chemotherapy is the most aggressive form of brain cancer treatment and is usually reserved for cancers that either cannot be reached by other methods or has metastasized to other parts of the body. Chemotherapy is a medication that is either taken orally or is injected into the body. It targets all cells in the body that are growing at an increased rate. In most cases, chemotherapy is systemic and affects the entire body. However, chemotherapy also can be localized by injecting the medication directly into the area around the brain or by using a dissolving wafer placed near the brain tumor laced with chemotherapy drugs. Chemotherapy targets all cells that are growing at an increased rate, which means it may also kill other bodily cells such as those that grow hair, as they also grow at an increased rate.
  
  

Decision of Treatment

• Which brain cancer treatment path a doctor recommends for a patient depends on a variety of factors. Location, size and type are the most common considerations for deciding a treatment option. Whether or not the cancer has become metastasized may also play a role in how the brain cancer is treated. Age and the overall health level of the patient can also determine a course of treatment.