Malignant brain tumours (brain cancers) may be treated with surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy.  These treatments may be used either alone or in combination. The choice of treatment will depend on:

• The brain tumour – what type it is, whether it is primary or secondary tumour
• Tumour size, and exactly where in the brain it is
• Your age, medical history and general health.

The aim of treatment will be:

• To remove or destroy the tumour altogether, or, if this is not possible;
• To slow the growth of the tumour and to relieve the symptoms by reducing the size of the tumour and any swelling around it, so that it puts less pressure on the other parts of the brain.

Before your treatment begins make sure that you have discussed it with your doctor so that you know what to expect, including any risk involved.  You may find it useful to have your partner or a friend with you when you talk with your doctor. You may also find it helpful to make a list of questions before your visit to the doctor.

If the doctor suggests more than one type of treatment, this does not necessarily mean that the cancer is worse than the cancer of somebody who has only one type of treatment.  Each person is different and treatment needs to be planned individually.

Making decisions about treatment

For many people, making decisions about your treatment can be very hard. It may be even harder when you know that the treatment is aimed at relieving and controlling symptoms rather than curing the cancer.

Some people will always choose active treatment even if it offers only small chances of cure. Others want to make sure that the possible benefits of treatment will outweigh the likely side effects.  Still others will choose whichever option offers them what they consider to be the best quality of life.

Once you have discussed treatment options with your doctor, you may want to talk them over with your family or friends, with the nursing staff, the hospital social worker or chaplain, or your own minister or priest.  Talking it over can help you sort out what course of action is right for you.