Brain cancer drugs and treatments that can be done

Brain cancer is a disease that occurs when a malignant tumor grows in the brain. This disease can interfere with the function of the brain in regulating all the work of the organs of the body. Therefore, people with brain cancer need to get medicine or treatment immediately to solve the problem. So, how do you treat common brain cancer?

Types of drugs and treatments to treat brain cancer

Treatment for brain cancer varies from person to person. This treatment determination is based on brain cancer stage, location, size, and type of brain tumor, age and overall health condition of the patient, and patient tolerance of certain treatment procedures or drugs.

With these considerations, it is hoped that the treatment given can be right on target and achieve the desired goals, namely removing as many brain tumors as possible and stopping their growth so that they do not come back again. Here are the various ways doctors generally treat and cure brain cancer:

1. Operation

Surgery is the main way doctors treat brain cancer. In this type of treatment, doctors cut or remove tumor tissue through a surgical procedure.

To remove a tumor, the doctor will first remove a small portion of the skull (craniotomy) and then cut or remove the tumor tissue. After that, the skull that is removed will be put back in place.

In this procedure, how much tumor tissue is removed depends on the size and location of the tumor in the brain. Tumor tissue can be completely removed, but also may only be removed partially or not at all because it is too close to a vital area of ​​the brain.

This can actually risk damaging the brain or even be life threatening. In this case, the doctor will generally recommend other treatments to treat the brain cancer.

In addition to removing tumor cells, surgery can also be aimed at relieving symptoms of brain cancer or to reduce the size of the remaining tumor, which must be treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Moreover, surgery is considered to have a smaller risk of side effects than the two treatments.

However, this brain cancer treatment may also cause side effects in sufferers, such as bleeding, infection, or reactions to anesthesia. Swelling of the brain and seizures can occur after surgery. Talk to your doctor about these possible side effects.

Neuroendoscopy

Apart from using the craniotomy method, surgery to treat brain cancer can also be performed using a neuroendoscopic procedure. Reporting from Johns Hopkins Medicine, neuroendoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which a neurosurgeon removes a tumor through a small hole in the skull or through the mouth or nose.

This surgical procedure is performed using an endoscope, which is a small telescope-like device equipped with a high-resolution video camera and tools to navigate and access the tumor at the end. The neurosurgeon also puts additional tools such as a brace or scissors at the end of the endoscope to remove the tumor.

Neuroendoscopy is generally performed when it is difficult to reach the tumor area with ordinary surgery or to remove the tumor without damaging other parts of the skull.

2. Radiotherapy

Radiation therapy or radiotherapy is another common way doctors treat brain cancer. Radiotherapy is done using high-power radiation, such as X-rays, to destroy tumor cells or relieve symptoms.

This treatment is generally performed two to six weeks after surgery, to destroy any remaining tumor cells that are not removed. In addition, radiation therapy can also be done if the tumor has grown more invasive or for those of you who cannot undergo surgery or have metastatic brain cancer, which is a brain tumor that occurs due to the spread of cancer cells from other parts of the body.

Radiotherapy for brain cancer generally uses radiation from an external machine. This procedure can take several days or up to six weeks in length. However, internal radiation, such as brachytherapy can also be done.

3. Chemotherapy

In addition to radiotherapy, another method commonly used in curing brain cancer is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a treatment using drugs to kill cancer cells.

This treatment can be done alone, especially for those who cannot undergo surgery or have a tumor that is already severe. However, chemotherapy can also be combined with other treatments, such as after surgery or in conjunction with radiotherapy.

In this condition, chemotherapy is usually used to kill any remaining cancer cells that were not removed during surgery or cancer cells that come back after another treatment procedure.

To treat brain cancer, chemotherapy drugs are usually given, namely carboplatin, cisplatin, carmustine, temozolomide, and others. These drugs are generally given in combination. The administration can be intravenously or directly into the cerebrospinal fluid, either by injection or orally.

In addition, in some cases, implants containing chemotherapy drugs can be inserted into the brain during surgery, after the tumor is removed.

4. Certain drugs

In addition to the three main treatments above, certain drugs are also generally given for those who have brain cancer. These drugs are usually given to control symptoms or side effects of treatment that may arise. Medicines commonly given to help treat brain cancer include:

• Corticosteroids. This drug is generally given to reduce swelling around the brain tumor. This type of drug can also relieve headaches and other symptoms of brain cancer.
• Anticonvulsants. This drug is given to treat or reduce the chance of seizures in people with brain cancer.

5. Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy uses drugs that specifically target specific disorders that are causing tumors or helping tumor cells grow. This treatment is usually given when the cancer cells grow back after undergoing other brain cancer treatments.

One of the most commonly administered targeted therapy drugs is Bevacizumab, which is a man-made version of a monoclonal antibody or immune system protein. This drug is usually given to people with glioblastoma malignant brain tumors, especially if the cancer cells come back after undergoing primary treatment.

Apart from the various treatments above, other types of treatment may be given by the doctor, depending on the condition of each patient. Talk to your doctor about the right type of treatment.

Recovery after undergoing brain cancer treatment

After undergoing various treatments for brain cancer, you may experience various side effects that may affect the work of your brain. In addition to seizures, possible side effects include difficulty speaking and walking.

To overcome this, you can contact a physiotherapist or other therapist. Physiotherapy can help you restore the function of your body movements. Other therapists, such as speech therapy, can help you with speech problems after surgery.

You can also ask for help from other therapists to be able to return to your normal activities. You can also try other natural remedies for brain cancer, such as herbal remedies or acupuncture, to reduce any symptoms or side effects of treatment that may arise.

However, always consult with your doctor about these treatment options, so that they are suitable for your condition.