Brain tumors are treated by an experienced group of medical professionals that may be called your "treatment team." The team is composed of a neurosurgeon, medical oncologist or neuro-oncologist, radiation oncologist, and a pathologist. Many other supporting team members also provide care, such as oncology nurses.The tumor type, location, and grade will determine the treatment plan. Curative treatment is possible with some tumors, while slowing the growth or simply relieving severe symptoms may be the goal of treatment for others. Unfortunately, there may be no recommended course of treatment for some brain tumors.
Surgical approaches in brain tumor treatment include tumor resection (complete removal) or debulking (removing as much as possible). In some cases, surgery may be the only treatment method that is required, but others may need other treatment methods, like radiation therapy. Surgery followed by radiation therapy is common with many tumors, however. There are several types of radiation therapy used to treat brain tumors. Again, tumor type, grade, and location are key factors in deciding which type of therapy is best.
Radiation therapy does not come without risks, however. It can damage parts of the brain, leading to cognitive decline, like memory loss and trouble concentrating. Swelling can be a side effect, but can be controlled with corticosteroids. Radiation necrosis can also be a side effect of radiation. In simple terms, it is the formation of irradiated brain tissue that has died and developed into a mass. Surgery may be needed to to remove the dead tissue.
Chemotherapy may be utilized in some tumors that are known to respond well to chemotherapy agents, such as CNS lymphoma, gliomas, or medullablastomas. Some higher grade tumors respond well, but not all. Thus, chemotherapy is available to select patients whose tumors are favorable to chemotherapy.
source : cancer.about.com
