Astrocytoma is a type of cancer that forms in the brain or spinal cord. Astrocytoma begins in cells called astrocytes that support nerve cells. Astrocytomas that occur in the brain can cause seizures, headaches and nausea. Astrocytomas that occur in the spinal cord can cause weakness and disability in the area affected by the growing tumor. Astrocytoma can be a slow-growing tumor, or it can be an aggressive cancer that grows quickly. The aggressiveness (grade) of your astrocytoma determines your prognosis and treatment options.
Common symptoms of astrocytomas are the following:
Surgery is usually the first step in treating an astrocytoma. In some cases, your doctor may be able to remove all or most of the tumor. However, anaplastic astrocytomas grow quickly, so your doctor may only be able to safely remove part of the tumor.
If your tumor can’t be removed with surgery, or only part of it was removed, you may need radiation therapy. Radiation therapy destroys rapidly dividing cells, which tend to be cancerous. This will help to shrink the tumor or destroy any parts that weren’t removed during surgery. You may also be given chemotherapy medication, such as temozolomide (Temodar), during or after radiation therapy. Chemotherapy is often used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that might remain. It can be combined with radiation therapy for aggressive cancers.
Frequently asked questions
Q.Is an astrocytoma malignant or benign?
An astrocytoma is a type of brain tumor that develops in astrocytes. These are the star-shaped cells in the brain that hold nerve cells in place. An astrocytoma can be harmless (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Astrocytomas are most common in middle-aged men, but they can occur in children, too.
Q.Is astrocytoma deadly?
Grade 1 and grade 2 astrocytomas grow slowly and are benign, meaning they're not cancerous. Grade 3 and grade 4 astrocytomas grow faster and are malignant, which means they're cancerous. An anaplastic astrocytoma is a grade 3 astrocytoma. While they're rare, they can be very serious if left untreated.
Q.Is astrocytoma inherited?
Inheritance. Anaplastic astrocytomas are usually not inherited . These tumors typically occur sporadically, in people with no family history of astrocytomas. In most cases, the exact cause is unknown.
Q.How does astrocytoma affect the body?
Astrocytomas increase the pressure in the brain (intracranial pressure), which causes headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Other symptoms experienced may depend on the type and location of the tumor. You may experience seizures, neck pain, or dizziness. You may lose your appetite.
Q.How long does it take to recover after surgery?
It can take some time to recover from your brain tumor operation. Everyone takes a different amount of time to recover. You might stay in hospital for around 3 to 10 days after surgery. How long you stay in hospital depends on your operation and how long you take to recover.
Q.What are the side effects after brain tumor surgery?
