Surgery
Surgery is often the first treatment for children with a low-grade glioma. The goal is to remove all of the tumor or as much of as possible. Doing so can control or cure the tumor, as well as help ease some of the symptoms.
The most common surgery for brain tumors is called a craniotomy. During the procedure, an opening is made in the skull to remove the tumor, either with a scalpel, special scissors, or a suction device. Afterward, the piece of the skull bone is replaced and the incision is closed.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy (chemo) is the use of cancer-fighting drugs to destroy the tumor. They’re usually given intravenously or in pill form. Chemo may be used alongside surgery.
Targeted Therapy Drugs
Targeted drugs are not common treatments for brain and spinal cord tumors in children, but they can be useful in certain cases.
For example, in the tumor cells of some low-grade gliomas, there are mutations in the BRAF gene that cause them to make certain proteins, which help them grow. The targeted therapy drugs dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and tovorafenib (Ojemda) target this BRAF gene, while the drug trametinib (Mekinist) targets a related MEK protein. Sometimes, these drugs are used in combination with one another for the best possible outcome.
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