Many people are overwhelmed when they hear the word brain tumor as their first thought is usually surgery. The truth is not all brain tumours require surgery.
Doctors now offer brain tumor treatment without surgery, using methods that work well for tumor management and reduction. This includes radiation, chemotherapy and modern treatments like immunotherapy which offer safer and faster ways for patients to recover from surgery.
In this blog, we will discuss brain tumor types and various non-surgical brain tumor treatments available and if you are looking for expert guidance, consider consulting the Best medical oncologist in Gurgaon who can assist you in determining the best option for your condition.
Types of Brain Tumors
Not all brain tumors behave the same way as some grow slowly and are easier to manage while others may be aggressive and spread faster.
Here are a few common types:
Gliomas: These tumors grow from the brain's supporting cells and some grow slowly while others can be more aggressive.
Meningiomas: They develop slowly within the brain where they are mostly benign and tumors of this type might be controlled by the use of radiation therapy if surgery is too risky.
Pituitary tumors: These are often found in the small gland at the base of the brain and these tumors respond well to targeted treatments and medications.
Metastatic brain tumors: These tumors spread to the brain from cancers in other parts of the body such as the lung, breast or kidney. Treatments like radiation and systemic therapy are often used to manage them effectively.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Brain Tumors
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses strong energy beams to target the tumor and stop it from growing. The good part is that there is no surgery involved as doctors simply focus the radiation on the tumor which is a bit like shining a light on a specific spot.
This means the healthy parts of your brain stay safe while the tumor cells are treated. Many people continue their normal routine while taking this treatment and in some cases you can even go home the very same day.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves taking medications either as chemo pills or through an advanced drip into the blood vessels in the lower part of the arm. Some patients during treatment have reported feeling mildly irritable while others suffered from fatigue. It is the case that most patients do not settle with these drawbacks as there are other medicines available for their use.
Radiation is also available and is used in tandem with chemotherapy. Radiology seems to strengthen the body’s defense mechanisms while weakening the tumor during periods of rapid growth.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy is a newer, smarter type of treatment. Instead of attacking all fast-growing cells (like chemotherapy does), it only goes after the specific changes inside tumor cells that make them grow.
Because of this, targeted therapy usually has fewer side effects and feels easier on the body. Doctors often recommend it when special tests show that the tumor has certain changes that can be treated with these medicines.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is all about using your body’s own immune system to fight the tumor. Normally, our immune system doesn’t always recognize brain tumor cells. But with this treatment, medicines help “wake up” the immune system so it can see the tumor and fight it.
This treatment is still fairly new but it has shown really promising results for patients whose tumors don’t respond well to other methods.
Supportive Care
Supportive care aims at enhancing the well being and comfort of the patient. It doesn’t always aim to shrink the tumor but helps with symptoms like migraines, cerebral edema and convulsions.
This can include therapeutic and pharmacological agents, daily living aids and physiotherapy. For a lot of patients, supportive care becomes equally important compared to other modalities, as it provides the patient strength, comfort, and tranquility.
Advantages of Non-Surgical Brain Tumor Treatments
Minimally invasive – these procedures entail less time in the hospital and avoid major incisions which makes them less physically grueling.
Rapid recovery – patients can return to routine work at an earlier date than is the case with conventional surgery.
Less risk – with no surgery, there is no possibility of infection, bleeding, and no surgery mistakes.
Improved quality of life – non-surgical techniques address the tumor and protect the ability to remember, speak, and move.
Factors Deciding the Right Treatment Plan
Tumor type, size, and location: For any patient, the doctor will analyze the size and the position of the tumor so as to give the best possible approach to treatment.
Patient’s age and health: For much younger and very healthy patients, treatment options such as stronger therapies may be recommended, while the older will be recommended to gentler approaches.
Stage of the tumor: Less aggressive, slow-growing benign tumors typically require lighter treatment and aggressive ones may require combined modes of therapies.
Genetic tests: Innovative approaches in medicine tackle various tumors differently, a phenomenon caused by distinct alterations in tumor cells as sophisticated testing reveals.
Conclusion
Modern techniques quite often happen to redefine the purpose of onco-therapies such as the use of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, which means that the need to perform surgery on a brain tumor is now quite rare as the other treatment options have proved to be quite effective. These techniques lessen the danger of the treatment, decrease recovery times, and focus on brain preservation which clearly enhances the quality of life for the patient.
If you or a family member is seeking this type of assistance then you must obtain a consultation with a specialist. In this regard, the patients from Gurgaon or near gurgaon have access to an oncologist of great renown and 15+ years of experience – Dr. Pooja Babbar who is known as the best medical oncologist in gurgaon, constantly makes the patients the center of her work and has implemented advanced methods of treating cancer. Together, you will navigate through non-invasive methods of treating brain tumors and her crafted solutions will leave you feeling – as you very well should – that you are being well taken care of.
