Radiation is a common treatment for brain tumors and can be used alone or combined with surgery and/or chemotherapy.
Three delivery options exist for radiation therapy:
- External delivery
- Traditional form of radiation therapy.
- Directs radiation at the tumor and the area surrounding it.
- Treatment occurs five days a week, with length of treatments depending on the tumor type.
- Internal delivery
- Also known as brachytherapy.
- Places radioactive pellets directly in the brain, which release a measured dosage of radiation daily.
- Patients are frequently hospitalized when the pellets are most active.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery
- Patient is fitted with a frame to stabilize the head.
- Imaging technique finds the exact location of tumor cells.
- Instrument precisely targets radiation dose to the tumor while not affecting surrounding healthy tissue.
Possible Side Effects and Risks of Radiation
Radiation treatment often produces swelling of the brain. This can often make your symptoms feel worse at first but can be controlled by taking steroids.
Possible side effects:
- Redness and irritation in the mouth
- Dry mouth
- Difficulty swallowing
- Changes in or loss of taste
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Short and long term cognitive and neurologic problems
- Skin changes such as redness, flaking and swelling
Talk to your physician about effects you are having and ways side effects can be managed.