What is brain cancer?
Brain cancer and central nervous cancer occur when there is an abnormal growth of cells that start in the brain.
There are several types of brain and central nervous cancer—primary, which starts in the brain, and secondary, which starts in another organ and spreads to the brain.
Brain cancer treatment
The treatment of these sophisticated cancers takes teamwork—the collaboration of specialists and subspecialists. As a brain or spinal cord cancer patient, you'll benefit from the expertise of neurologists, neuro-oncologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists and other specialists on the medical staff.
Your treatment plan will be determined by your care team based on age, medical history, type and stage of brain and central nervous cancer, and personal preferences. Brain cancer treatment options may include:
- Surgery, including craniotomy and debulking surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Brachytherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Pain management
- Clinical trials (when appropriate)