Newly Diagnosed

Treating Brain Tumors With Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a type of medicine used to treat brain tumors in children. There are different ways to give this medicine:

• By mouth – Some chemotherapy medicines come as a liquid or a pill that a child can swallow.

• By IV (into a vein) – Other chemotherapy medicines are given through a needle placed in a vein or through a small device under the skin called a port-a-cath (or port).

• By spinal tap – Some chemo goes directly into the fluid around the brain and spine, called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This is done through a special procedure called a spinal tap.

• By Omaya reservoir – In some cases, chemo is given straight into the brain using a small device called an Omaya reservoir. This is placed under the scalp and connected to the brain with a thin tube.

Each method is chosen based on the type of tumor and what will work best for the child.

Chemotherapy works by finding cells that grow quickly and stopping them from multiplying. Because cancer cells grow and divide much faster than most normal cells, chemotherapy can sometimes stop them from growing or even destroying them. Cancer cells grow out of control because of changes, called mutations, that affect how they make new cells or use energy to grow.

Since chemotherapy targets fast-growing cells, it can also affect some healthy cells in the body, which may cause side effects. Your child’s treatment team will choose the type of chemotherapy they believe will work best for the tumor while trying to limit side effects and protect healthy cells.

Talking to Your Child About Chemotherapy

Age-appropriate videos can help parents and caregivers talk with children about cancer. The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s Imaginary Friend Society is a series of short, animated videos that talk about cancer-related topics in a kid-friendly way. In the following video, Uni the unicorn helps make sense of chemotherapy, explains why it’s important, and offers a glimpse into some of the side effects.