This section describes the treatment options for various types of brain tumours in detail.
Once the doctors have a clear understanding of what is causing your child’s symptoms — usually after surgery — you will meet with the treatment team. Remember that it is helpful to bring paper and a pen and take notes at each meeting with this team. Or ask a relative or friend to come to do this for you.
The treatment team may include a neurosurgeon, a neuro-oncologist, a nurse practitioner or nurse, and a social worker. During the meeting, they will explain which doctor is responsible for your child’s treatment, and the roles of everyone who is there.
The doctor will explain the type of tumour that your child has, based on what the team has learned through diagnostic testing. You will learn the expected effect this tumour will have on your child in the upcoming months and years, based on what is known about the tumour. This is called the prognosis.
They may talk about placing your child on a protocol, which is a treatment plan for a particular tumour. You will need to agree to the plan for the treatment to begin. Teenaged patients may be asked for their agreement as well.
There are three main types of treatment for brain tumours in children. They are surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Your child may have one of these treatments, or a combination of two or more treatments. For some tumours, the best approach is simply observation.
To reduce some of the symptoms of the tumour, your child will likely take steroids at first, usually for a short period.
Some children experience hydrocephalus, which is a condition where there is increased pressure in the brain due to the tumour blocking the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. In such cases, a shunt may be surgically implanted to help relieve the pressure in the brain.
Many doctors are trying to make cancer treatments more successful. They can do this by studying different types of treatment, in clinical trials. Your child’s doctor may ask if you would like your child to participate in a clinical trial. You will have to sign an informed consent form for your child to participate in a trial.
When you meet with the treatment team, you may also be told about resources available to support your child, you and your other children during treatment and recovery. You will be encouraged to think about any questions concerning the diagnosis and the treatment plan.
Before you agree to the treatment offered, it is important that you understand what to expect and feel comfortable with your decision.