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Cancer
Overview
Malignant brain tumors rarely spread to other areas of the body, but may recur after treatment. Sometimes, brain tumors that are not cancer are called malignant because of their size and location, and the damage they can do to vital functions of the brain.
Understanding Your Diagnosis
Doctors do not know exactly what causes brain tumors, but possible risk factors include exposure to radiation or certain chemicals, and a family history of brain cancer.
Deciding on Treatment
Your treatment plan will depend on your age and health, and the stage and size of your tumor. You may need surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or brachytherapy, a type of radiation therapy given inside the body.
Managing Side Effects
Brain tumors can affect your ability to think, remember, reason, and concentrate. Your health care provider will work to minimize these effects, as well as any side effects from your treatment.
Advanced Reading
Learn more about brain cancer from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Physician Data Query (PDQ®) for patients. It includes information about prevention, screening, and treatment.