Brain cancer treatment

In this section we look at the treatment options for people diagnosed with brain cancer.

Learn more about:

• Overview
• Treatment options
• Making treatment decisions
• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Targeted therapy
• Steroids
• Palliative treatment

Overview

Treatments offered for a brain or spinal cord tumour will depend on:

• the type, size, grade, location and genetic make-up of the tumour
• your age, medical history and general state of health
• the symptoms you have
• the aim of treatment – whether to remove as much of the tumour as possible; to slow the tumour’s growth; or to relieve symptoms by shrinking the tumour and reducing swelling.

Treatment options

The tumour type may not be known for certain until after a biopsy or surgery. Treatment is planned by what the surgeon thinks the tumour may be from scans. For a benign tumour, surgery may be the only treatment. For a malignant tumour, treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, and drug therapies such as chemotherapy or targeted therapy.

Medicines, such as steroids or anticonvulsants, may reduce symptoms or manage seizures. You may have a new or modified treatment, such as immunotherapy, on a clinical trial.

→ READ MORE: Brain cancer surgery

Podcast: Making Treatment Decisions

Listen to more episodes from our podcast for people affected by cancer