Medulloblastoma is one of the most common types of brain tumor. It grows in the cerebellum, which is located at the lower and rear part of the brain. The cerebellum is also called the “posterior fossa”; it controls the balance, posture and other complex motor functions like speech, equilibrium and muscle movements. The tumors present in the cerebellum are called “infratentorial” tumor. The tumor in the adults is usually located in the main body of the cerebellum; in children the tumor usually develops in the vermis, which is a small bridge that joins both the sides of the cerebellum. There are many treatments that are involved in the treatment of this cancer: surgery, medulloblastoma chemotherapy and radiation. You can consult your oncologist to know what treatment would suit you best. However, medulloblastoma chemotherapy is different than glioma chemotherapy.

Treatments for Medulloblastoma: The first thing that the oncologists prefer is resurrecting the affected area. The surgeons prefer to remove as much of tumor as they can through surgery. Thereafter they give chemotherapy or radiation or both. Your oncologist will give you a regimen or a plan for your treatment. This plan is usually based on the pathology reports, the age of the patient, the stage of the cancer, and how much the tumor has spread in the brain.

Medulloblastoma Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy treatment required the usage of very strong drugs to destroy the cancerous cells in the body of the patient. Children who have medulloblastoma are given this treatment in order to kill the cancerous cells that might be left behind even after surgery. It reduces the risk of the relapse in patients.

The various drugs used for the chemotherapy of medulloblastoma include vincristine, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, procarbazine, and/or hydroxyurea. Patients who undergo chemotherapy for medulloblastoma are at a low risk for recurrence of the cancer. If children below the age of four are given chemotherapy treatment, they might not have the need to undergo radiation. It also improves their chances of survival.

Researches indicate that patients who undergo chemotherapy treatment along with the radiation treatment or only chemotherapy have a greater chance of survival than those who only underwent a radiation treatment. Before you undergo chemotherapy treatment, make sure that the nurse administering chemotherapy and the oncologists have enough experience in their relative field.

Regimen for Medulloblastoma

1. One of the regimens for medulloblastoma involves the usage of vincristine (or VCR) once in a week and craniospinal radiation is given along with it for three times a week. This cycle is repeated for the next six to eight weeks. Then the second phase of the cycle begins. In this phase, there is a rest period for only a week. After these cycles end, the oncologists begin another regimen in which cisplatin, cyclophosphamide and lomustine are given to the patients. The cycle for every drug is different. Cisplatin is given for about eight cycles; lomustine is given once in every cycle and vincristine is given three times in one cycle.
2. Another chemotherapy regimen involves the drugs cisplatin, etoposide and cyclophosphamide. This chemotherapy was given before the patients were given radiation therapy. Cisplatin was given on day one and day five of the cycle. Etoposide is given on day three and day five, and cyclophosphamide is given on the first and the third day of the cycle. Vincristine is given on the first day of the cycle.
3. The chemotherapy regimen is used for the treatment of medulloblastoma in children. This regimen involves the usage of methotrexate and five other drugs.

Chemotherapy for medulloblastoma can be given either orally or by intravenously. The frequency of the cycles and the dosage of the medication are decided by the oncologist, depending on the condition of the patient. The oncologists these days use the implant method. This method is used for high-grade tumor. In this method the surgeons place an implant after performing a major brain surgery. These implants are very small in size and dissolve in the brain. The chemotherapy drug contained in these implants then gradually shrinks the size of the tumor that could not be resected during surgery. The drug that is usually used in this treatment is carmustine.

Side Effects of Medulloblastoma Chemotherapy

Every person reacts in a different way to these drugs. Everyone does not experience all the side effects of chemotherapy mentioned below.

• The patient can experience neutropenia, which means that the white blood cells of the body get reduced and the body becomes prone to infection. The patients undergoing this treatment are asked not to come in contact with those who have an infection.
• The patient may experience fatigue. They are advised to take plenty of rest.
• Nausea and vomiting are also quite common side effects as the drugs kill the fast growing cells. They can also have diarrhea.
• Hair loss: the drugs cause a drastic loss of hair from the scalp and the whole body. However, this is quite temporary and the hair grows after chemotherapy treatment stops.

• There are many other side effects that are rare; some of them include joint pain during chemotherapy. Consult your oncologist to know more about them.

Also ask questions if you have any doubts related to your regimen, or side effects. Take down the name and phone number of the caregiver who should be contacted in case of emergency. Make sure that your oncologists or caregivers tell you when to get in touch with them immediately; that is what side effects should be reported to them without any delay. You can also request on how to take care of yourself during the treatment and later on.

Although the cause of this cancer is not yet known, the various researches indicate that there are good chances of survival with medulloblastoma chemotherapy if you receive the treatment on time. It depends on the age of the patient when the tumor was first diagnosed, the size and the stage of the cancer, and whether the cancer has metastasized.