Source: Cancer Resource Room
Brain tumors occur in both kinds of cells
that make up the brain tissue. They are
the nerve cells and the supporting (or
glial) cells that protect and take care
of the nerve cells. There are many more
supporting cells than nerve cells, so
cancers of the supporting cells are the
most common. These are Astrocytoma and
Gliomas.
Two brain cancers that are more common
in children than in adults are medulloblastoma
and ependymoma.
- Ependymoma is a cancer of a lining
layer of cells in the brain and spinal
cord, and are most often found in
the back part of the brain in children.
- Medulloblastoma is a brain cancer.
It usually starts in the lining cells
of the fourth ventricle (a fluid-filled
space in the brain ) and forms a tumor
in the cerebellum (back part of the
brain). As brain cancer grows, it
puts pressure on normal parts of the
brain, causing symptoms like headache,
loss of balance, sleepiness, and vomiting.
Treatment may include surgery, radiation,
and chemotherapy. Special radiation
called “proton beam” can
treat this tumor and protect normal
areas of the brain. To read more about
Medulloblastoma
>>>
There are many other types of brain tumors
that occur in children. Treatment and
chance of recovery (prognosis) depend
on the type of tumor, its location within
the brain, the extent to which it has
spread, and your child’s age and
general health. To read more on Other
Types of Childhood
Brain Tumors >>>
What’s
New in Childhood Brain Tumors?
Approximately 300 children have participated in clinical trials with proton
beam radiation. This special type of radiation therapy is being used in medulloblastomas
that provides a more precise targeting of radiation to the tumor(s) while
sparing healthy surrounding tissues. Although the use of proton beam radiotherapy
is relatively new in pediatrics, it is considered the best clinical practice
for children with certain cancers, such as:
This special type of radiation allows clinicians to treat tumors effectively
while minimizing the short and long term negative effects associated with
traditional x-ray radiation therapy.
To Search Pub Med on
childhood brain tumors, please see below.
Consumer
Journals
Selected
Professional Journals
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