With nearly 170,000 Americans affected with brain tumors every year and survival times being measured in months, it is easy to feel perplexed and agitated. It is important, however, to consider the fact that if tackled with a sharp technique coupled with smart decisions, you can put up a fight against brain malignancy and hopefully even defeat it.

Houston neurosurgeons armed with novel and advanced therapeutic strategies are your best bet to conquer brain tumors. Following are the current management strategies being employed:

Identification and Decision making

With the recent advancements in Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), early detection of brain tumors is achievable. Houston Neurosurgeons, after a careful neurological examination, determine the category and aggressiveness of the tumor and prepare a prognosis. Glioblastomas and anaplastic astrocytoma’s are considered more aggressive and fatal as opposed to meningioma’s, which are less destructive in comparison.
After division into subgroups, various curative and palliative (symptomatic) management pathways are commenced. Curative measures increase longevity and the survival rate of the patient while palliative methods strive to achieve a better quality of life for the diseased and everything is done to avoid and evade a possibility of reduction to vegetative state.
The management plans are tailored for each patient in accordance with the site of lesion, genetic constituent and history. All measures are undertaken to maintain body strength and sensation by Houston neurosurgeons.

Radiotherapy

Houston neurosurgeons carry out radio-diagnostic and radio-therapeutic procedures for pre-operative surgery purposes and surgery planning. A clear and unambiguous clinical and radio graphical assessment is key for effective neurosurgery.
Multi-field technique is employed for a low skin dose to the patient, which dramatically increases the chances of survival and improves the prognosis. Radiotherapists tread with extreme caution to avoid accessory hotspots.

Chemotherapy

There has been much advancement in molecular Neuro-oncology in the recent years. Certain drugs have proved to be effective to influence growth factor receptors, which prevent the tumor from growing and hence eliminate the malignant tendency.
Targeted approaches assisted with monoclonal anti-bodies, receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors; anti sense oligonucleotides and gene therapy have proved competent and proficient against brain tumors.

Surgical Management

Houston Neurosurgeons are constantly striving to achieve the best possible surgical treatment that can be employed for brain tumor patients. Many medical journals and oncology studies in the recent years have shed light on the implications of upfront radiosurgery and gamma knife surgery.
Even though the prognosis and treatment depends on the site of tumor, age of the patient and the genetic constituent; some measures in surgical management have proved to be highly beneficial for every patient. Stereotactic radiosurgery has created waves in the field of neurosurgery by tremendously improving neurological preservation.
Houston Neurosurgeons discuss and work with radiation oncologists to perform the latest stereotactic radiosurgery. It has proved to significantly reduce the growth and proliferation of the tumor and hence improved the prognosis greatly.

The plans and management strategies differ greatly from patient to patient and Houston neurologists make use of the best and latest techniques to improve the quality of life of the patient. It is important to keep fighting and keep hope alive.

About Author : Dr. Imran Fayaz MD MSc FRCSC FACS P.A.Neurological Surgeon. Diplomate, American Board of Neurological Surgery, Fellow, American College of Surgeons, Fellow, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Dr. Fayaz has been in practice for twenty years, a communicator, both with his patients and with the referring physicians. He believes that his patients deserve an accurate diagnosis and a realistic treatment and recovery plan.
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