Brain cancer treatment with chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is one of the principal methods of treating brain cancer. The patient is prescribed certain cytotoxic drugs that have a destructive effect on malignant cells. In addition, enhanced metabolism and reproduction of cancer cells make them vulnerable to medications. Therefore, chemotherpay is frequently used for advanced brain cancer when surgery or radiation is impossible. Sometimes it also can be given before the brain surgery to shrink the tumor. Chemotherapy can be performed in various ways at the choice of the oncologist. Doctors prescribe medications that can pass through the brain's natural defenses, the so-called blood-brain barrier. Medications can be administered intravenously or taken in the form of pills. In addition to conventional administration, doctors might recommend injecting drugs directly into the cerebrospinal fluid to increase efficiency. As a rule, chemotherapy uses a scheme with several cytostatic drugs in a specific dose for a particular time. The treatment course usually consists of a few cycles with breaks for rest and recovery. At this time, doctors evaluate the effect of chemotherapy and decide whether to continue it. Despite the presence of specific side effects, the benefits of chemotherapy for brain tumors outweigh the risks. In addition, various techniques and medications are used that can reduce or prevent undesirable consequences.