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Treatment for your child's brain and/or spinal cord
tumor will depend greatly on the type of tumor and its
location. Work very closely with your child's team
of doctors to determine the best possible course of
treatment for your child. Treatment may use one or
multiple types of drugs and may be combined with
radiation. The most important part of your child's
treatment program should be a healthy diet. Avoid
foods with processed sugars and drink plenty of water.
Some drug therapies react with ingredients in some foods
and should be avoided. These will be explained by
your child's doctor.
No treatment is without risk. Be sure to
educate yourself on all aspects of your child's
treatment plan and what the risks are.
IMPORTANT - No question is a stupid question!
After all, it's your child's life on the line!
Steroids - Steroid usage with brain tumor
patients is common. Swelling in the brain can
cause headaches, pain and nausea. Steroids reduce
the swelling and ease the symptoms. Steroids also
have negative side-effects for the child, such as a
significant increase in appetite, weight-gain, and
irritability. Patients must also be weaned off of
steroids to avoid going through withdrawal symptoms.
The most common type of steroid administered for brain
tumor patients is Decadron or its generic form,
dextramethazone.
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