Learning about your treatment options

You may have questions and concerns about your treatment options. You may want to know how you’ll feel and function after treatment, and if you’ll have to change your normal activities. Your healthcare provider is the best person to answer your questions. He or she can tell you what your treatment choices are, what the goals of these treatments will be, how successful they’re expected to be, what treatment will be like, and what the risks and side effects are.

Your healthcare provider may suggest a specific treatment. Or you may be offered more than 1 option and asked to decide which you’d like to use. It can be hard to make this decision. It's important to take the time you need to make the best decision.

Deciding on the best plan may take some time. Talk with your healthcare provider about how much time you can take to explore your options. You may want to get another opinion before deciding on your treatment plan. You may also want to include your family and friends in this process.

Understanding the goals of treatment for brain tumors

Treatment may control or cure the brain tumor. It may also improve your quality of life by helping to control symptoms caused by the tumor. The goal of brain tumor treatment is to do 1 or more of these things:

• Remove or destroy the brain tumor

• Stop or slow the tumor's growth or spread

• Prevent or delay the tumor's return

• Ease symptoms caused by the tumor, such as headaches or seizures

Ask your healthcare provider what the goals of your treatment are.

Types of treatment for brain tumors

Different types of brain tumor treatments have different goals. The types of treatment and their usual goals include:

• Surgery. Surgery is used to remove the tumor while leaving as much of the brain as possible intact. It's often the first step in treatment for most brain tumors. Removing the tumor (resection) is usually done if the tumor can be removed safely. Surgery gives the healthcare team an exact diagnosis. It also reduces the tumor size. In some cases, the surgeon can’t remove the whole tumor. This may be because it’s near vital parts of the brain. Or it may be growing into the brain like fingers of a glove. If the tumor is in an area of the brain that can’t be reached safely, a small amount of tissue is still taken out for testing. This is called a biopsy. 

• Radiation therapy. The goal of radiation is to kill cancer cells. This is done using X-rays, gamma rays, or proton beams. It may be done to shrink a tumor before surgery. Or it may be done to kill any cancer cells that may be left after surgery. Radiation therapy might be used as the main treatment if surgery isn't an option. It can also help relieve symptoms caused by a tumor. 

• Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy may be used after surgery or biopsy. Its goal is to reduce the chance that the cancer will grow, spread, or come back. In many cases, chemotherapy is taken by mouth as pills. But these medicines may also be given as a liquid put into your blood through a vein (IV) or put right into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) around your brain. If you can’t have surgery, you may still get chemotherapy. You might also get it along with radiation therapy. Chemotherapy may be used if the cancer comes back after treatment.  

• Targeted therapy. Newer medicines target different parts of cancer cells or nearby blood vessels. They work differently from standard chemotherapy medicines. A few targeted medicines are used to help treat certain kinds of brain tumors. They're usually used when surgery is not an option or the tumor comes back after treatment.

• Other medicines. Other medicines might be used to help relieve or prevent symptoms caused by the tumor or its treatment. For instance, you might be given medicines to help prevent seizures or help control swelling in the brain.

Clinical trials for new treatments

Researchers are also finding new ways to treat brain tumors. These new methods are tested in clinical trials. Before starting treatment, ask your healthcare team if there are any clinical trials you should consider.

Working with your healthcare team

Your healthcare team will help you decide on the best treatment plan for you. It may take time to do so. Ask your healthcare provider how much time you can take to explore your options. You may want to get a second opinion from another healthcare provider before deciding on treatment. A second opinion can give peace of mind and help you make sure you’re making the best choices for treatment. You may also want to talk with your family and friends.