Not all brain tumors are cancerous, but when they are, it’s vital to act fast. Sadia Yasser, MD, and her team at Advanced Neurology of Katy in Katy, Texas, have extensive experience delivering fast and accurate diagnoses and expert treatment. Call the Advanced Neurology of Katy office today to request a consultation or book your appointment online for brain cancer care.
Brain cancer is a malignant mass or tumor that forms in or on your brain. It occurs when some of the cells in your brain change. So, instead of following a normal life cycle, they multiply out of control.
Types of brain cancer include:
Some tumors are primary (originating in your brain). Others are metastatic (secondary), where malignant cells spread from cancers in other parts of your body.
Some common brain tumor symptoms include:
You might also develop weakness or numbness on one side of your body.
The symptoms brain cancers cause vary depending on where the tumor is in your brain, the type of cancer, and the size of the mass. Headaches are often the first symptom.
When possible, the Advanced Neurology of Katy team recommends surgical removal of your brain tumor. Removing the cancerous cells is effective, but there may be limitations if the cancer is in a part of your brain where surgery is difficult or impossible.
Other potential brain cancer treatments include:
There are several types of radiation therapy. Standard external beam radiotherapy is the more traditional form, but advanced options like stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) are also available.
SRS uses multiple, highly focused beams of radiation that damage the cancer cell DNA while minimizing harm to nearby tissues. It can be an effective option when surgery isn’t possible.
Chemotherapy involves taking potent medication that kills cancer cells. You might use oral chemotherapy. Or, you could have chemotherapy intravenously (through a blood vessel) or delivered directly into the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding your brain and spinal canal. It’s also possible to put a dissolvable wafer on your cancer site after surgery.
Targeted therapy uses medications that affect specific components of the cancer, such as genes and proteins.
To find out more about your brain cancer treatment options, call Advanced Neurology of Katy today or book an appointment online.