Brain Cancer Radiation Treatment

Brain cancer radiation treatment usually follows brain cancer surgery. Types of brain cancer radiation treatment include fractionation, stereotactic radiation treatment, and proton beam radiation treatment. Side effects will depend on the dose of radiation and the part of your body that is treated. Common side effects of brain cancer radiation treatment include nausea, tiredness, hair loss, and skin changes.

 

Brain Cancer Radiation Treatment: An Overview

Brain cancer radiation treatment (also called radiotherapy) uses high-energy rays to kill tumor cells. A large machine is used to aim radiation (in the form of x-rays, gamma rays, or protons) at the tumor and the tissue close to it. In some cases, the radiation may be directed to the entire brain or the spinal cord. Radiation treatment usually follows brain cancer surgery, because the radiation will kill tumor cells that may remain in the area. Brain cancer radiation treatment is also used on patients who cannot have surgery.
 
Patients will need to go into the hospital or clinic for radiation treatment, and the brain cancer radiation treatment schedule will depend on the type of the tumor, the size of the tumor, and the age of the patient. Each treatment will only last a few minutes.
 
In order to protect the healthy tissue around the brain tumor, doctors will use:
 
  • Fractionation
  • Hyperfractionation
  • Stereotactic radiation treatment
  • Three-dimensional conformal radiation treatment
  • Proton beam radiation treatment.
     
Fractionation
In fractionation, radiation treatment is usually given five days a week for several weeks. Giving the total dose of radiation over an extended period of time helps to protect the healthy tissue in the area of the tumor.
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD