Paediatric brain tumours can be cancerous or non-cancerous, also known as benign. Determining the type of tumour present is key to finding a suitable treatment. Additionally, where the tumour is located withing the brain can determine the health effects a child experiences.
Tumours are caused by the overgrowth of cells, which can happen in the brain and other areas of the body. However, paediatric brain tumours don’t usually have a clear, definable cause. Some risk factors can increase a child’s chance of developing a brain tumour, and these factors can include:
While children of all ages can experience brain tumours, they’re most prevalent in children under the age of five.
Symptoms of brain tumours can vary based on the part of the brain that’s affected. However, many children with this condition experience symptoms like:
One or more of these symptoms requires immediate attention from a medical practitioner. Doctors can perform tests to determine whether a growth is causing symptoms and if that growth is cancerous.
It’s possible to remove some tumours during surgery. However, surgeons must exercise extreme care when performing surgery on the brain. In some cases, surgery might not be possible, or it might not be feasible to safely remove all cancerous tissue.
In this case, doctors may recommend radiation therapy to shrink the tumour. Medication can also be used, such as chemotherapy to eliminate cancerous cells. Targeted drug therapy is another option, and these treatments can block blood supply to tumours to stop them from growing. Children may also require additional therapy after treatment. Palliative care is another option, and these treatments are aimed at making children as comfortable as possible when dealing with an illness.