Treatment options for brain tumors depend upon the location, size & type of the involved brain tumor. Other factors which are considered in determining treatment options include the overall health & preferences of the patients.
1. Brain Tumor Surgery
When brain tumors are located in places which are conveniently accessible through operations, the neurosurgeon will put all efforts in trying to remove as much of brain tumor as is possible.
Moreover, in some cases brain tumors are small & quite easy to separate from the surrounding brain tissue & which make complete removal conveniently possible. However, in some other cases brain tumors are cannot be separated from the surrounding brain tissue, or they may be located close to sensitive areas of the brain & which make surgical intervention a risky proposition.
In such cases, neurosurgeons generally only remove as much of brain tumor as it is safe. Even removing portions of brain tumors has been found to reduce signs & symptoms in patients. Brain tumor surgery carries risks like bleeding & infection.
Other possible risks of brain tumor surgery depend upon the region of brain where the tumor is located. Like for instance, surgery on brain tumor near nerves connecting to the eye will possibly carry risk of vision loss in the patient.
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2. Radiation Therapy for Brain Tumors
Radiation therapy utilizes beams of high-energy like protons or x-rays so as to destroy brain tumor cells. These doses of radiation can either come from a machine located outside the body & known as external beam of radiation or in extremely rare cases radiation can also be placed inside the patients’ body close to the brain tumor & which is also known as brachytherapy.
External beam radiation are focused upon areas of the brain where the brain tumor is located or in some other cases may also be applied to all areas of the brain & which is known as whole-brain radiation. Whole-brain radiation therapy is most often utilized for treating cancers which have spread to the brain from other parts of the body.
Side effects of radiation therapy generally depend upon the dose & the type of radiation which patients receive. Common side effects which are found to occur during or immediately after undergoing radiation therapy include scalp irritations, headaches & fatigue.
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3. Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Brain Tumor Treatment
Stereotactic radiosurgery is not a type of surgery in the real sense because it involves no incisions. Gamma Knife radiosurgery is one of the best examples of stereotactic radiosurgery. This procedure involves using multiple beams of radiation which are highly focused upon the treatment areas so as to destroy tumor cells in very small areas.
However, each beam of radiation is particularly not powerful, but the point where they collectively meet at the brain tumor, they deliver a large dose of radiation which can destroy tumor cells. There are several types of technology which are utilized in radiosurgery so as to deliver doses of radiation for treatment of brain tumors.
Most common among these include the Linear Accelerator of LINAC or Gamma Knife radiosurgery. Radiosurgery is typically performed as a single outpatient session & in most cases patients are permitted to go home the same day.
4. Chemotherapy for Treatment of Brain Tumors
Chemotherapy utilizes drugs for destroying brain tumor cells. Chemotherapy drugs can either be taken orally in pill form or intravenously injected. Chemotherapy drugs which are most often used in treatment of brain tumors include temozolomide (Temodar) which is generally taken as an oral pill.
Many other chemotherapy medications are also available & are most often used depending upon the type of cancer. Side effects of chemotherapy associated with brain tumors depend upon the dose & type of drugs patients’ receive. Common side effects of chemotherapy generally include vomiting, nausea & loss of hair.
5. Targeted Drug Therapy for Brain Tumors
Targeted drug treatments for brain tumors generally focus upon specific abnormalities which are present within the cancerous cells. They work by blocking these abnormalities & cause brain tumor cancerous cells to die.
One specific targeted therapy drug which is utilized for treatment of glioblastoma type of brain cancer is bevacizumab (Avastin). This targeted drug is administered intravenously & which prevents formation of newer blood vessels in order to cut off blood supply to the brain tumor & eventually destroy brain tumor cells.
Another targeted drug everolimus (Afinitor) is utilized for treating benign brain tumors found to be occurring among people with genetic disorders known as tuberous sclerosis. Everolimus is designed to block an enzyme within the body which plays an important role in growth of cancerous cells.
Best Affordable Brain Tumor Surgery in India
Brain tumor treatment cost in India is comparatively much lower than what it is in other medical tourism destinations around the world. While brain tumor surgery success rates in India are at par with the best in the world, the most delightful part of the medical tour experience of an international patient is that he/she will save a lot of money & will only need to pay a fraction of what they would have had to pay in countries like UK, Germany, Canada or United States.
Therefore, brain tumor surgery cost in India is an excellent opportunity for people around the world seeking affordable medical procedures & other healthcare solutions.