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Brain Tumour: Traditional and Latest Treatments

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Aarav Malhotra
Brain Tumour: Traditional and Latest Treatments

Getting diagnosed with a brain tumour can be deeply disturbing, but the silver lining is that there are several traditional and innovative treatment options available for this life-threatening condition. While traditional treatment options such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy have been used to treat brain tumours for decades, new discoveries in the field are bringing with them a renewed hope. From advanced surgical techniques to targeted therapies and novel approaches such as immunotherapy, brain tumour treatment is evolving rapidly. In this article, we explore both traditional methods and the latest breakthroughs in brain tumour treatments.

Traditional Methods

Traditional treatment options for brain tumour include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, which are often used in combination, depending on the type, size, and location of the tumour, as well as the patient's overall health.

Surgery

In most cases of a brain tumour, either a complete or partial surgical removal is recommended. Here are some of the techniques by which the brain tumour is removed:

  • Craniotomy: Craniotomy is the most common surgical method used to treat brain tumours. It involves temporarily removing a portion of the skull to access and remove the tumour. Once the tumour is excised, the bone is put back into place, and a sample of the tumour is sent to the lab for a biopsy.
  • Neuroendoscopy: Neuroendoscopy is a minimally-invasive procedure performed using an endoscope, wherein the tumour is removed through small incisions, often through natural openings such as the mouth or nose, or a small hole in the skull. This approach offers several benefits over open surgery, including reduced recovery time and risk of complications, and less damage to the skull and brain tissues.
  • Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT): LITT, or simply laser ablation, is a procedure that uses laser energy to precisely target and destroy tumour cells, offering an alternative for patients who may not be candidates for traditional surgery. LITT is particularly effective for deep-seated or difficult-to-access brain tumours.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy utilises powerful drugs to either kill or slow down the growth of tumour cells. It can either be done before the surgery to shrink the cancer for easier removal (neoadjuvant therapy) or it can be done after surgery to kill off any remaining cancer cells (adjuvant therapy).

In some cases where surgery isn’t an option due to cancer being more advanced or the sensitive location of the tumour, chemotherapy could be the primary treatment.

The chemotherapy drug can be given at a gap of a few ways; either as a pill that is taken orally or directly into the veins. Another option for brain tumour management is to inject the drug directly into the cerebrospinal fluid.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is one of the most common and effective treatment methods to treat brain tumour. It uses high energy X-ray or infrared beams to target and destroy cancer cells. It can be used in combination with surgery or chemotherapy or on its own. It helps in shrinking the tumours.

Latest Treatments

With more advanced techniques being developed for brain tumour treatment, there is hope for complete and successful eradication of the tumour. Some of the latest treatment include:

  • CAR-T Cell Therapy: The use of CAR-T cell therapy is rapidly increasing as it can target a specific pathway of cancer cells. CAR-T cell therapy uses genetically-modified T cells to target the cancer cell’s ability to infiltrate the brain. This approach has proven to be highly-effective in controlling tumour growth with minimal toxicity.
  • Targeted Therapy: Targeted Therapy focuses on attacking specific molecules (genes or proteins) involved in tumour growth. The drugs used for the therapy target the blood vessels of the tumour, limiting its ability to grow.
  • Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is used to either stimulate or boost the body’s immune system to fight brain tumours. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (drugs used in immunotherapy) are promising but still under research for advanced brain tumours such as glioblastoma.
  • Proton Therapy: Proton therapy is a more precise form of radiation therapy that uses protons instead of X-rays minimising the damage to surrounding healthy tissue. This approach makes it ideal for treating critical areas of the brain.
  • Gene Therapy: Gene therapy is an innovative treatment that is used to either correct the faulty genes responsible for the tumour's development or destroy the tumorous cells. It offers a more targeted and potentially less invasive option compared to traditional therapies

These cutting-edge treatments offer new hope for managing brain tumours, improving survival rates, and reducing side effects compared to traditional therapies.

Conclusion

Traditional brain tumour treatment options have been used for years and are still effective. That said, newer treatments target the tumours while causing less harm to healthy parts of the brain, improving survival rates and reducing complications. If you or your loved one is diagnosed with a brain tumour, then consider treatments at some of the best neurology hospitals in Gurgaon. A good hospital harbours the latest medical equipment and technology along with highly experienced doctors, ensuring you receive the best possible brain tumour treatment.

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Aarav Malhotra
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