The choice of treatment and results after the treatment could be discussed and finalized with the doctor. A treatment plan could be developed which fits the need. Brain tumor cancer treatment depends on various factors like the type, location and size of tumor. The doctor also needs to know whether cancer cells are also present in the cerebrospinal fluid. Different types of brain tumor cancer treatment options like surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a combination of treatments are possible. Treatments are also given to control pain, and other symptoms of cancer.

1. Surgery: Surgery is usually done to treat brain tumors. Craniotomy is a surgery in which skull is opened and done under general anesthesia. The scalp of the patient is shaved and then an incision is made by a special type of saw to remove a piece of bone from the skull. After the tumor is removed, the opening in the skull is covered by the piece of bone or also with a piece of metal or fabric.

If the tumor cannot be surgically removed, then biopsy could also be done which involves removal of small amount of tissue from the tumor and then examining it. Nowadays new techniques and tools are used so that the brain tumors are removed precisely and safely.

2. Radiation therapy: High-energy rays are used to kill tumor cells in brain tumor cancer treatment by radiotherapy. A large machine is used to aim the rays at the tumor. Radiation could also be directed to the entire brain or spinal cord. Usually radiation therapy is given after surgery. Several steps are also followed by the doctor to protect the healthy tissue. They are as follows:

Fractionation: Usually radiation therapy is given 5 days a week and may last for several weeks. This procedure helps protect healthy tissues around the tumor.

Hyperfractionation: Small doses of radiation are given to the patient and two or three times a day.

Stereotactic radiation therapy: In this type of brain tumor cancer treatment narrow beams of radiation are directed towards the tumor and from various angles. A patient needs to wear a rigid head frame. Exact pictures of the location of the tumor are taken by an MRI or CT scan. The dose of radiation required is decided by the doctor with the help of computer. Sophisticated instruments like gamma knife are used so that radiation is precisely aimed at the tumor.

Three-Dimensional Conformal radiation therapy: With the help of computer a three dimensional image of the tumor and nearby brain tissue is created. Multiple radiation beams are aimed to the exact shape of the tumor. As the beams are precisely focused, the normal brain tissues are protected.

3. Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is also used to treat brain tumors. Anti-cancer drugs either alone or in combination are used to treat cancer cells which are given by mouth or by injection. The drug enters the bloodstream and travels throughout the body. These drugs are given in cycles. Chemotherapy might also be used with surgery and radiation as an initial treatment.

Treatment of Brain tumor cancer is also given through polymer wafer implants which is a type of chemotherapy. Biodegradable wafers are saturated with a chemotherapeutic drug and placed in the cavity of the tumor. The wafers get dissolved over a short period of time.