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Radiation Therapy for Brain and Spinal Cord
Being diagnosed with a brain or spine tumor is overwhelming. Thankfully, there are treatment options available that can help. Sound Cancer Care specializes in radiation therapy for brain and spine tumors.
Radiation therapy for the brain and spine is highly effective. Using advanced technology, we are able to administer radiation treatments with greater precision and accuracy than ever before. Targeting affected areas while sparing as much surrounding healthy tissue as possible with real-time adjustments of the treatment to account for motion or other changes of the tumor or normal tissues.
Brain vs Spinal Cord Treatment
Patients receiving radiation therapy for brain tumors may undergo only a single treatment or several weeks of treatment depending on their cancer type. Side effects can include fatigue and hair loss or skin changes in the treated area, but these side effects usually subside after treatment is finished.
Radiation therapy for spinal tumors is logistically very similar to treatments for brain tumors. Patients may experience side effects like fatigue, skin changes at the site of treatment, and other changes related to the spine level involved. These side effects are usually temporary and go away shortly after treatment ends.
Types of Radiation Treatments for Brain and Spinal Cord
High doses of radiation kill cancer cells or significantly slow their growth. When cancer cells receive enough damage, they lose their ability to divide, resulting in cell death. Once the cancerous cells die, the body removes them. It can take days or weeks of receiving radiation treatments for cancer cells to be damaged beyond repair and die. The exact number of treatments will vary based on the type of tumor, its size and location, the patient’s age and history, and other factors that your radiation oncologist will assess.
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
IMRT utilizes computer-controlled linear accelerators to deliver precise radiation doses that conform to the shape of the tumor while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. This technique allows for the modulation of radiation intensity across multiple beams, improving dose distribution and reducing the risk of damage to critical structures such as the brainstem, optic nerves, and spinal cord.
IMRT is particularly beneficial for treating complex or irregularly shaped tumors, as well as cases where tumors are located near sensitive neurological structures. The treatment is delivered in multiple sessions, typically over several weeks, to maximize tumor control while minimizing side effects.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
This highly targeted technique delivers high doses of radiation to the tumor while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.
SBRT utilizes advanced imaging technologies, such as MRI and CT scans, to ensure accurate tumor localization, allowing for sub-millimeter precision. Typically administered in a few sessions over one to five days, SBRT offers a non-invasive alternative to surgery. Additionally, this approach can be particularly beneficial for patients with multiple brain metastases or recurrent tumors, as it enables the precise treatment of each lesion while preserving neurological function.
Potential side effects, such as fatigue, swelling, and temporary neurological changes, may occur, depending on the tumor location and radiation dose.
Whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT)
This is a radiation treatment used to target the entire brain, commonly for patients with multiple brain metastases, leptomeningeal disease, or recurrent brain tumors. Unlike focal radiation techniques such as stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), WBRT delivers radiation uniformly to the entire brain to treat both visible and microscopic tumor cells.
The treatment is typically administered over multiple sessions, usually spanning one to two weeks, to allow for better tolerance and minimize side effects. While WBRT is effective in controlling widespread disease within the brain, it can also affect healthy brain tissue, leading to potential side effects such as fatigue, hair loss, scalp irritation, headaches, and, in some cases, cognitive decline or memory issues over time.
Sound Cancer Care utilizes advances in radiation techniques, such as hippocampal-sparing WBRT. Aiming to reduce the impact on memory and cognitive function. Despite its potential side effects, WBRT remains a valuable treatment option for patients with extensive brain involvement, offering symptom relief and improved disease control in appropriate cases.
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)
SRS delivers a high dose of focused radiation in a single session or a few fractionated treatments, effectively targeting abnormal tissue while sparing surrounding healthy brain structures.
Advanced imaging techniques, such as MRI and CT scans, guide treatment planning to ensure pinpoint accuracy down to the millimeter. SRS is commonly used for brain metastases, small primary brain tumors, and recurrent lesions, offering an alternative to surgery for patients who are not surgical candidates.
The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, reducing hospital stays and recovery time. While generally well tolerated, potential side effects may include temporary swelling, fatigue, or rare long-term neurological effects. As a cutting-edge treatment, SRS has significantly improved outcomes for patients with CNS disorders, providing effective tumor control and symptom relief while being minimally invasive.