Brain Tumor Treatment: Medical, Therapy, and Home Remedies – Not all brain tumors are malignant. Some appear as benign tumors (non-cancerous), but some also appear as malignant tumors (cancers). The cause is the growth of abnormal cells in the brain that if left without medical treatment, brain tumors can spread to other parts of the body (metastasis).
After getting the certainty of diagnosis of the disease is a brain tumor, the doctor will usually provide appropriate treatment recommendations.
This type of treatment to cure tumors can involve treatment that is of an immediate nature, until recovery management.
Every brain tumor sufferer needs to work with a medical team to carry out the best treatment.
Treatment of a brain tumor largely depends on the type, size, and location of the tumor. The health condition of the sufferer in general will also be considered in determining the appropriate type of treatment.
According to the official website of the National Brain Tumor Society, the type of brain tumor treatment is determined based on a number of factors, such as:
- Age, overall health condition, medical history
- Tumor type, location, and size
- The degree of malignancy or possibility of tumors relapsing and spreading
- Tolerance of sufferers to certain treatments, procedures, or therapies
Benign and non-aggressive brain tumors, usually treated with surgery and monitoring to ensure the tumor does not relapse.
As for malignant and susceptible brain tumors, the treatment is plural requires surgery, radiation, until chemotherapy so that the disease does not relapse.
Here is a further explanation of several types of treatment of brain tumors.
Brain Tumor Treatment Options
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy aims to shrink the size of the tumor, by killing tumor cells using radiation energy. Radiation beams can be produced by special devices outside the body (external radiation) or installed near the site of the tumor (Brachytherapy). There is also a radiotherapy technique called radiosurgery (gamma knife surgery), with greater energy but more targeted.
Surgery
Surgery is the most common treatment of brain tumors. This procedure is performed to partially or thoroughly remove tumor cells. If the removal of the tumor has the potential to damage important tissues of the brain, the doctor will remove some of the tumor cells. This is aimed at reducing pressure on the brain and reducing the number of tumor cells removed through radiation or chemotherapy.
If the tumor cells cannot be removed, the biopsy procedure can be performed by taking a sample of the tumor cells, then tested under a microscope. Biopsies help doctors determine the right treatment.
Chemotherapy
Just like radiotherapy, chemotherapy is also commonly done after surgery to kill the remaining tumor cells that are not removed. This type of treatment is carried out using medications, either in the form of pills taken or intravenously.
Chemotherapy drugs are usually used for the healing of brain tumors, namely temozolomide (Temodar).
Medicines
Your doctor may also prescribe some medications, such as steroids to reduce swelling around the tumor, painkillers, and anticonvulsants given before and after surgery. Other medications may also be prescribed to help cope with the symptoms that appear.
Recovery for brain tumors
Different types of treatments for the brain tumor can affect your motor, speech, vision, and thinking abilities. Therefore, your doctor may recommend undergoing rehabilitation after treatment.
There are several therapeutic options that can be done as part of the recovery process after undergoing treatment, including:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy.
- Talk therapy.
Home Remedies
In addition, you can also apply several ways of home remedies. Of course beforehand, you should still consult a doctor first. Some lifestyle and home remedies that can help overcome brain tumors are:
- Acupuncture
- Hypnosis
- Meditation
- Music therapy
- Relaxation exercises
- Quit smo**king
- Eating highly nutritious food.
- Exercise diligently, but avoid exercises that involve direct physical contact
- Routinely take medicines prescribed by the doctor
