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Is Brain Tumor Treatment Without Surgery An Option?

Is Brain Tumor Treatment Without Surgery An Option?

Introduction

Various options are presently available for treating brain tumor, including non-surgical methods. In certain cases, surgery is ruled out due to the location of the tumor, health of patient, or due to choice of the patient. Here is a look at presently available options for brain tumor treatment without surgery.

Main alternatives to surgery include the following:

  1. Radiation therapy.
  2. Chemotherapy.
  3. Targeted therapy.
  4. Immunotherapy.
  5. Tumor treating fields.
  6. Palliative care.

Quick Outline Of Brain Tumor

Before we dwell deeper into options for brain tumor treatment without surgery here is a quick outline of brain tumor.  This refers to an abnormal growth of cells either in the brain or near the brain. The growth is classified into benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous).  

Types of brain tumors are broadly classified into primary tumors or secondary tumors. Primary tumor originate in the brain, while secondary usually spread from cancers that originate in other parts of the body.

Common symptoms of brain tumor include:

  • Headaches.
  • Feelings of nausea.
  • Sudden seizures.
  • Impaired vision, speech, or hearing.
  • Numb sensation in the limbs. 
  • Changes in memory retention or behavior.

Diagnosis of brain tumor include MRI, CT scans, biopsy of tissue samples, and EEG, PET scans, or genetic testing. In Tamilnadu, advanced genetic testing facilities offer individuals the chance to undergo testing for risk of brain tumor. This helps in getting the right treatment at the earliest possible time for better outcomes

What Is The Difference Between Brain Cancer And Brain Tumor?

With the above introduction let us understand the difference between brain cancer and brain tumor. This will help in understanding information about brain tumor treatment without surgery better. While the terms “brain tumor” and “brain cancer” are often used interchangeably, there are clearly distinct meanings.  

  • Brain tumor refers to abnormal growth of cells either in the brain or near the brain.
  • Brain cancer refers to malignant brain tumors that exhibit uncontrollable growth and expand into nearby tissues. This could endanger the life of the person.

An important difference is that all brain tumors are not cancerous.

What Are The Different Options For Brain Tumor Treatment?

In continuation of learning more about brain tumor treatment without surgery here are the different treatment options outlined. 

  1. Surgery – this is aimed at removing as much of the tumor as possible. The options include craniotomy, which is a traditional surgery to remove the tumor. Another option is the minimally invasive procedure that relies on endoscopes or smaller incisions that can be used for some tumors.
  2. Radiation therapy – this has the goal of destroying tumor cells or is also aimed at preventing the growth of cells. This relies on high-energy beams including external beam radiation to target tumors from outside the body. Another option is stereotactic radiosurgery which involves highly focused radiation for small tumors.
  3. Chemotherapy – is aimed at either killing or slowing down the growth of cancer cells through drugs. This is administered either orally or intravenously.  
  4. Targeted therapy – is intended to attack specific molecules that are known to promote tumor growth.
  5. Immunotherapy – in meant to boost the immune system of the body to attack tumor cells.
  6. Tumor treating fields – involves the use of electrical fields to disrupt the division of cancer cells.  
  7. Palliative care – has a goal of managing symptoms and improving the quality of life. This is achieved through medications, rehabilitation, and pain management.

The actual type of treatment is chosen on the basis of certain factors. For instance, the type of tumor will influence the choice of treatment. It could be benign or malignant, it could be low-grade or high-grade and this will help determine the most suitable treatment. Similarly, the location of the tumor may have an effect on the surgical options. Tumors in sensitive areas are not suitable for surgery.

Other factors that influence treatment include the age and health of patients, apart from genetics that guide the therapy.  Additionally, emerging treatment options offer great hope and are in various stages of development and trials.

What Is Cyberknife Treatment?

To complete the understanding of brain tumor treatment without surgery here is a look at CyberKnife treatment. This non-invasive, robotic radiation therapy is used in the treatment of tumors and various other medical conditions. It is known to be highly precise, and unlike traditional surgery, delivers focused beams of radiation to a target area. This does not require any invasive procedure.

Distinct features of CyberKnife

  • Robotic system – The procedure involves a robotic arm that delivers radiation from different angles, targeting the tumor and ensuring that there is minimal damage to surrounding tissue.
  • Real-time imaging – tracks the position of the tumor during treatment, and this factors in movements of the patient such as breathing, to ensure precision.
  • Non-invasive – does not involve any surgical procedure, and is performed as an outpatient procedure with very little recovery time.
  • Highly precise – suitable for treating small tumors or tumors that are hard-to-reach.

Different conditions treated by CyberKnife include the following:

  • Cancerous tumors – for instance, cancers of the brain, spine, lung, liver, pancreas, prostate, and breast.
  • Non-cancerous conditions – such as arteriovenous malformations and trigeminal neuralgia.
  • Metastases – tumors that spread from one part of the body to other locations in the body.

The procedure involves the use of a robotic arm to deliver radiation precisely to the target. Typically, the number of sessions could be anywhere between 1–5 sessions, with each session having a duration of 30–90 minutes.

Primary advantages of this treatment option include the following:

  • Non-invasive – dispenses with the need for anesthesia or recovery time.
  • Lesser side effects – patients experience minimal damage to healthy tissues and therefore lesser side effects such as fatigue or skin irritation.
  • Shorter duration – total time for sessions are lesser. 

However, there are certain limitations in the option. For instance, it is not suitable for all patients, and is usually recommended for patients with localized, small-to-medium-sized tumors. It involves specialized equipment and expertise, and may therefore be available in select locations. The costs may be relatively higher compared to other treatments.

January 20, 2025 Cancer