Brain tumour, benign (non-cancerous)
Treatment
Benign tumourscan often besuccessfullyremoved with surgery and don'tnormally come back.
However, some slow-growing tumours do grow back after treatment and have the potential to change into high-grade or malignant (cancerous) tumours .These are fast-growing and likely to spread.
You'll usually have follow-up appointments after your treatment to monitor your condition and look for signs of the tumour recurring. Most people will need to have surgery, but sometimes non-surgical treatments will be an option.
Agroup of different specialists called amultidisciplinary team (MDT)willbe involved in your care and will recommend what they think is the best treatment option for you, but the final decision will be yours.
Before visiting hospital to discuss your treatment options, you may find it useful to write a list of questions that you'd like to ask. For example, you may want to find out the advantages and disadvantages of particular treatments.
Surgery
The main treatment for benign brain tumours is surgery. This will aim to remove as much of the tumour as possible, without damaging the surrounding brain tissue.
In most cases, a procedure called acraniotomy will be carried out. You will be given a general anaesthetic so you are asleep while the operation is carried out.An area of your scalp will be shaved anda section of the skull is cut out as a flap to reveal the brain and tumour underneath.
The surgeon can then remove the tumour and secure the flap of skull back in place with metal screws.
If it's not possible to remove the entire tumour, you may need further treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy (see below).
Radiosurgery
Some tumours are situated deep inside the brain and are difficult to remove without damaging surrounding tissue. In such cases, a special type of radiotherapy called stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) may be used.
During radiosurgery, several beams of high-energy radiationare focused on the tumour to kill the abnormal cells. The treatment is completed in one session, recovery is quick and an overnight stay in hospital is not usually required.
Radiosurgery is only available in a few specialised centres in the UK and is only suitable for some patients, based on the characteristics of their tumour.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy
Occasionally, chemotherapy andconventional Radiotherapy may be usedto shrink a benign tumour or kill any cells left behind after surgery.
Chemotherapy uses medication to kill tumour cells and can be given as a tablet, an injection or a drip. Radiotherapyinvolves controlled doses of high-energy radiation, usually X-rays, to kill the tumour cells.
Side effects of these treatments can include tiredness, hair loss , nausea and reddening of your skin.
and side effects of chemotherapy .
Medicationto treatsymptoms
You may also be given medication to help treat some of your symptoms before or after surgery, including:
- anticonvulsants to prevent seizures (fits)
- corticosteroids to reduce swellingaround the tumour, which can relieve some of your symptoms and make surgery easier
- painkillers totreat headaches
- anti-emetics toprevent vomiting
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 15 Apr 2015
Introduction
A benign (non-cancerous) brain tumour is a mass of cells that grows slowly in the brain. It usually stays in one place and does not spread.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a benign or low-grade brain tumour depend on its size and where it is in the brain. Some slow-growing tumours may not cause any symptoms at first.
Causes
The cause of most benign brain tumours is unknown, although a small number of cases have been linked to certain genes or previous cancer treatment.
Diagnosis
See your GP if you develop any of the symptoms of a benign brain tumour, such as a persistent and severe headache.
Treatment
Most benign tumours are removed with surgery and do not normally come back.
Recover and care after brain tumor
After being treated for a brain tumour, you may need additional care to monitor and treat any further problems.
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