Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Is brain cancer curable? Surgery

Surgery is the most common treatment for brain cancer. The goal is to raise as much cancer as possible and minimize the chance of loss of brain function. Surgery to open the skull bones is called craniotomy. This is done under general anesthesia. 

brain cancer surgery
decrease brain cancer surgery

Before surgery begins, the hair shaved head. The surgeon then makes an incision in the scalp using a special kind of chain saw to remove a piece of bone from skull. After removing part or all of the tumor, the surgeon closes the opening with a piece of bone was, a piece of metal or material. The surgeon then closes the incision in the scalp. Some surgeons may use a channel that is placed under the scalp for one or two days after surgery to minimize the accumulation of blood or fluid.

Side effects that may arise post-surgery brain cancer are headache or discomfort during the first few days after surgery. In this case can be a headache remedy.

Other less common problems that can happen is piling cerebrospinal fluid in the brain resulting in brain swelling (edema). Usually the patient is given steroids to relieve swelling. A second surgery may be needed to drain the fluid. The surgeon may place a tube, long and thin (shunt) in the ventricles of the brain. The tube is placed under the skin to other parts of the body, usually the abdomen. Drained of excess fluid from the brain to the stomach. Sometimes the fluid flow to the heart instead.

Infection is another problem that can develop after surgery (treated with antibiotics).

Brain surgery may damage normal tissue. brain damage can be a serious problem. Patients may have problems thinking, seeing, or speaking. Patients also may experience personality changes or seizures. Most of these problems diminished over time. But sometimes the brain damage could be permanent. Patients may require physical therapy, speech therapy, or occupational therapist.