Chemotherapy is a treatment used to destroy cancer cells in order to treat brain tumors. Neuro-oncology is a medical specialty that focuses on tumors affecting the central nervous system. This field aids in diagnosing, treating, and managing tumors in the brain and other areas of the nervous system. The goal is to create a treatment plan that is tailored to the patient after an accurate diagnosis has been made.
Combining chemotherapy in neuro-oncology can improve the overall treatment quality and improve the success rate. If you are diagnosed with a brain tumor and your specialist for neuro-oncology in Siliguri has recommended chemotherapy, we have developed a guide to help you the role of chemotherapy in neuro-oncology in Siliguri.
These anticancer drugs taken during chemotherapy circulated throughout the body to travel to the targeted area and kill the cells, growing abnormally. Brain tumors present unique challenges due to the blood-brain barrier which protects the brain and several other issues including tumor heterogeneity and critical function of the affected tissue makes it hard for chemotherapy to work. It is complemented with various other therapies like surgery or radiation therapy.
Delivery Methods in Chemotherapy for Brain Tumor
Chemotherapy is taken through different means. These drugs attack by interfering the growth and division of the cancer cells in many different ways. Consult with best oncologist in Siliguri like Dr. Manish Goswami to help you understand the delivery method of chemotherapy suitable for you. They can be taken orally while others through IV and other means. Chemotherapy medicine is delivered through different methods which include:
- They are taken in the form of pills. These pills later dissolve and spread to reach the target area to kill the cancer cells.
- Through intravenous or IV that is inserted in the arm’s vein into the bloodstream.
- Through chemotherapy, the CSF bathes the brain.
- Surgical implanted wafers are put into the brain tissue where the gel wafer packed with the chemotherapy pill, slowly dissolves over a few weeks to be released into the brain tissue.
Role in Brain Tumor Treatment
Primary treatment: Chemotherapy is sometimes used as the primary treatment when other treatments fail. This applies only to certain types of brain tumors.
Adjuvant therapy: Chemotherapy is mostly used as a complementary treatment after the primary treatment is done to eliminate the cancer cells. These treatments are primarily applied after surgery, radiation therapy, and other interventions to thoroughly eliminate remaining cancer cells. They contribute to lowering the risk of recurrence.
Neoadjuvant therapy: Neoadjuvant therapy is used before the main treatment of surgery or radiation therapies. This is to ensure the shrinking of the tumor to make the whole process of surgery effective while improving the success rate.
Palliative care: Chemotherapy helps in managing symptoms of those whose brain tumor has gone to the last stage and is not long curable. Chemotherapy helps in eliminating the cancerous cells and helps the patient live longer. The distressing symptoms get in control for some time and the treatment also helps in improving the quality of life.
Challenges and Consideration
Blood-Brain Barrier: The brain is safeguarded by a protective layer known as the blood-brain barrier, which ensures it is shielded from harmful substances. However, this also makes it challenging for the chemotherapy drug to cross the barrier to fight the cancer cells. Thus the effectiveness of the treatment also goes down.
Resistance Mechanism: Tumors sometimes developed resistance which enabled them to turn on their resistance mechanism. The resistance to chemotherapy declines the improving rate and often needs other treatment along with chemotherapy to proceed with the treatment.
Toxicity: Chemotherapy often results in side effects, including neurotoxicity, which requires careful management to maintain the quality of life. Chemotherapy can be very lethal. Though killing cancerous cells can also affect the healthy tissues badly, however after successful treatment, proper management of the side effects can help you recover completely.
Tumor Heterogeneity: Brain tumors show genetic and molecular diversity which complicates the treatment strategy.
Conclusion
The Role of Chemotherapy in Neuro-Oncology in treating brain tumors is huge. Sometimes when other treatment options don't work, chemotherapy works as a primary treatment. However, most of the time chemotherapy is used as a complementary treatment for central nervous system cancer, especially brain tumors.
It is used either to reduce the impact of the tumor in the success rate before surgery or after the treatment to properly eliminate the residue of the cancerous cells. This reduces the chance of recurrence of cancer. Which type of treatment is best for you will be made clear after talking with the specialist for neuro-oncology in Siliguri or your area. Understand the treatment plans, the impact, and risks before opting for chemotherapy.
