The way a physician will choose to treat brain cancer depends on the size,
type, and location of the tumor. Sadly, some tumors are inoperable, thus
patients must rely on chemotherapy and radiation therapy to shrink tumors, and
kill cancerous cells. Surgery is a common treatment for most brain tumors.
Surgeons will either remove all of the tumor, or parts of the tumor. The
remaining tumor may be successfully treated with high energy rays (radiation)
that are intended to kill cancerous cells and prevent them from growing and spreading.
Radiation treatments may be given externally using a large machine, or
internally with implant radiation therapy. In the latter case, implants are
placed directly in the tumor. Chemotherapy is a drug that is intended to stop
the growth of cancerous cells. Patients may receive this treatment orally or
through an injection into the bloodstream. Often, a patient may receive several
cycles of chemotherapy following the surgical removal of a tumor to ensure that
all cancerous cells were removed, and to prevent the cancer from returning.