Childhood Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors
Chapter 3: Types of Tumors
Fresh activity is the only means of overcoming adversity.
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
TUMORS IN THE BRAIN OR SPINAL CORD (also called central nervous system tumors) account for 25 percent of all childhood cancers and are the second most common cancer in children. Symptoms vary depending on the location of the primary tumor. Tumors in the brain and spinal cord may exist for long periods with no growth, or they can dramatically increase in size in just a few days. Recent advances in diagnosis and treatment have improved the long-term survival rates for many children with brain or spinal cord tumors.
This chapter begins with a discussion of the causes of brain tumors. It then describes the many types of brain and spinal cord tumors, including their typical location, rate of growth, and treatment. It ends with a brief overview of the most commonly used treatments for brain and spinal cord tumors.
Table of Contents
All Guides- Introduction
- 1. Diagnosis
- 2. The Brain and Spinal Cord
- 3. Types of Tumors
- 4. Telling Your Child and Others
- 5. Choosing a Treatment
- 6. Coping with Procedures
- 7. Forming a Partnership with the Treatment Team
- 8. Hospitalization
- 9. Venous Catheters
- 10. Surgery
- 11. Chemotherapy
- 12. Common Side Effects of Chemotherapy
- 13. Radiation Therapy
- 14. Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
- 15. Siblings
- 16. Family and Friends
- 17. Communication and Behavior
- 18. School
- 19. Sources of Support
- 20. Nutrition
- 21. Medical and Financial Record-keeping
- 22. End of Treatment and Beyond
- 23. Recurrence
- 24. Death and Bereavement
- 25. Looking Forward
- Appendix A. Blood Tests and What They Mean
- Appendix C. Books and Websites