Supportive Care
At any stage of disease, people with brain tumors receive supportive
care to prevent or control problems and to improve their comfort and
quality of life
during treatment. Patients may have treatment to control pain and other
symptoms of a brain tumor, to relieve the side effects of therapy, and
to ease emotional problems.
These are common types of supportive care for people with brain tumors:
Steroids—Most patients with brain tumors
need steroids to help relieve swelling of the brain.
Anticonvulsant medicine—Brain
tumors can cause seizures. Patients
may take an anticonvulsant medicine
to prevent or control seizures.
Shunt—If fluid builds up in the brain, the
surgeon may place a shunt to drain the fluid.
Information about shunts is under "Surgery"
in the "Side Effects" section.
Many people with brain tumors receive supportive care along with
treatments intended to slow the progress of the disease. Some decide
not to have antitumor treatment and receive only supportive care to manage
their symptoms.
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