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Pre-tests and brain cancer treatment

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Published: 12May2007
Word count: 431
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Oncology teams' mission in daily work is the prevention and treatment of brain cancer. They research, test, and administer brain cancer treatment. Depending on the stage, location of tumor, and age of the patient, a treatment plan for the cancer can begin. Usually involving surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and other treatment simultaneously, brain cancer treatment is an aggressive attack on the cancerous tissue masses found. Many treatment methods are available that can be used alone, but this depends on just how advanced the brain cancer has developed.

The most interesting portion of brain cancer treatment lay in the tests that are performed before the surgery treatment option is chosen. Because the brain is of course one of the most important organs of the body many tests must first be performed to confirm the presence of a cancerous mass in the brain. Electrocardiograms or EKG is done, chest x-rays, and other test that detect the presence of any uncontrolled disease of the body exist first. Hypertension, diabetes, coronary ischemia, and a disease that inhibits the body's natural blood clotting mechanisms (circulating anticoagulant) determine the surgery type to be performed. Craniotomy, which is the treatment of choice for most sufferers where the skull is opened and as much of the tumor is removed as possible. In contrast, the laser surgery option uses MRI scan to pinpoint the exact location of the tumor and the laser is used to destroy tumor masses.

Radiation treatment is used in conjunction with surgery or alone when the brain cancer cannot be surgically removed. Survival using radiation increased ten fold for patients with malignant tumors and tends to pro long life in patients with any low-grade gliomas. External-beam radiation is the most common form of radiation treatment used in the treatment of brain cancer delivering radiation from the outside of the body. Usually initiated following surgery to remove any addition cells not removed during surgery, this treatment option is used in conjunction with all others as a final precautionary measure to ensure the elimination of all possible cancerous cell formations.

Regardless of the treatment method, the follow up is extremely important ant should not be skipped with the thought that all is well. Cancers can reoccur and proper follow-up care for patients who have undergone radiation or other treatments as there are some long-term side effects that may need constant monitoring for a while. For the brain cancer patient, neuropsychological test may also be a part of the final treatment stages to evaluate the possibility of diminished intellectual activity following brain cancer treatment.

Darren Dunner is the author of this article on Brain Cancer treatment. Visit today for more information on the subject on Brain cancer.

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