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- What Is Oligodendroglioma And What Are Effective Treatments?
What Is Oligodendroglioma And What Are Effective Treatments?
When a patient hears they have a brain tumour, they immediately think the worst. However, there are many different types of brain tumours and, consequently, a variety of brain tumour treatments that could be available to them.
If you or someone you know has recently been diagnosed with Oligodendroglioma, it is worth reading on to find out more about the illness.
These cells resemble oligodendrocytes, which are needed to protect nerve cells and maintain electrical signals that occur between the brain and spine, hence their name.
Once the cancerous cells begin to grow, they form a mass, which begins to press on the nerves, the spinal cord, and parts of the brain. This is when patients start to experience symptoms and the gliomas are most often detected.
Patients might also have issues with their balance and movement, feel numbness in their body, or find their cognitive reactions are slower.
After seeing a doctor with these symptoms, they should arrange some tests to determine whether it is a brain tumour.
These can include a neurological exam when the patient is asked questions about their current state; an MRI to look at clear images of the brain; and a biopsy to remove a sample tissue of the tumour so it can be tested.
Depending on the location of the tumour, this sample can be collected through surgery or during a small procedure using a needle.
Oligodendrogliomas could either be a Grade 2 or Grade 3 tumour, with the former being a slow-growing cancer that might have been developing for years before being detected. The latter is a malignant tumour, which means it is fast-growing and more dangerous for the patient.
These tumours can spread to other areas of the central nervous system, which is why it is important to act quickly in case it is found to be Grade 3.
It is extremely rare in children, and just 41 young people are diagnosed with it a year, compared with 1,090 adults.
Patients could undergo surgery to remove the mass, although this carries risk of damage to other parts of the brain.
Some neurosurgeons perform awake brain surgery, so they can continue to monitor the brain activity while removing the tumour to check they are not harming other areas. While it is important to remove as much of the mass as possible, it is also essential not to affect the patient’s brain function.
Chemotherapy is another option, as this stops the growth of tumour cells. This is often recommended after surgery to kill off any harmful cells that might still be remaining in the brain.
Radiotherapy is also frequently used to attack brain tumours, with radiation beams being targeted at the cancerous tumour to kill it. The radiation machine pinpoints exactly where it needs to send the energy beams, so it does not cause damage to healthy parts.
This can either be done externally from an outside source or internally, which involves putting the radioactive material directly near the cancer.
Again, radiotherapy might be suggested after surgery to make sure there are no more cancerous cells left. In advanced cases, it can also be combined with chemotherapy.
Some patients might also be offered to take part in clinical trials, which allows them to be part of new treatments. The risk is that side effects and the outcome of the procedure are unknown. However, it provides the chance to be part of a new and potentially effective treatment.
After being treated for Oligodendroglioma, patients might also need rehabilitation if the tumour has affected parts of their brain.
For instance, they may need physical therapy support if they have lost some motor skills; speech therapy to help them if they have trouble speaking; and occupational therapy to enable them to conduct daily activities independently again.
If you or someone you know has recently been diagnosed with Oligodendroglioma, it is worth reading on to find out more about the illness.
Oligodendroglioma brain tumour
Oligodendroglioma is a form of brain tumour called glioma, which arises from a growth of cells in the brain.These cells resemble oligodendrocytes, which are needed to protect nerve cells and maintain electrical signals that occur between the brain and spine, hence their name.
What are the causes?
Although it is not known why Oligodendrogliomas or other gliomas form, it is likely to be genetic.Once the cancerous cells begin to grow, they form a mass, which begins to press on the nerves, the spinal cord, and parts of the brain. This is when patients start to experience symptoms and the gliomas are most often detected.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of an Oligodendroglioma include having frequent headaches or seizures, often feeling nauseous or vomiting a lot, experiencing weakness or a loss of feeling in arms or legs, having speech, sight or memory problems, or undergoing personality changes.Patients might also have issues with their balance and movement, feel numbness in their body, or find their cognitive reactions are slower.
After seeing a doctor with these symptoms, they should arrange some tests to determine whether it is a brain tumour.
These can include a neurological exam when the patient is asked questions about their current state; an MRI to look at clear images of the brain; and a biopsy to remove a sample tissue of the tumour so it can be tested.
Depending on the location of the tumour, this sample can be collected through surgery or during a small procedure using a needle.
Oligodendrogliomas could either be a Grade 2 or Grade 3 tumour, with the former being a slow-growing cancer that might have been developing for years before being detected. The latter is a malignant tumour, which means it is fast-growing and more dangerous for the patient.
These tumours can spread to other areas of the central nervous system, which is why it is important to act quickly in case it is found to be Grade 3.
Who is more likely to get Oligodendrogliomas?
Oligodendrogliomas are most likely to occur in white males aged between 35 and 44. Out of the 14,950 people who live with this tumour in the USA, 14,680 are over the age of 20.It is extremely rare in children, and just 41 young people are diagnosed with it a year, compared with 1,090 adults.
What treatment options are available?
After receiving a diagnosis of Oligodendroglioma, there are different treatment options to consider.Patients could undergo surgery to remove the mass, although this carries risk of damage to other parts of the brain.
Some neurosurgeons perform awake brain surgery, so they can continue to monitor the brain activity while removing the tumour to check they are not harming other areas. While it is important to remove as much of the mass as possible, it is also essential not to affect the patient’s brain function.
Chemotherapy is another option, as this stops the growth of tumour cells. This is often recommended after surgery to kill off any harmful cells that might still be remaining in the brain.
Radiotherapy is also frequently used to attack brain tumours, with radiation beams being targeted at the cancerous tumour to kill it. The radiation machine pinpoints exactly where it needs to send the energy beams, so it does not cause damage to healthy parts.
This can either be done externally from an outside source or internally, which involves putting the radioactive material directly near the cancer.
Again, radiotherapy might be suggested after surgery to make sure there are no more cancerous cells left. In advanced cases, it can also be combined with chemotherapy.
Some patients might also be offered to take part in clinical trials, which allows them to be part of new treatments. The risk is that side effects and the outcome of the procedure are unknown. However, it provides the chance to be part of a new and potentially effective treatment.
After being treated for Oligodendroglioma, patients might also need rehabilitation if the tumour has affected parts of their brain.
For instance, they may need physical therapy support if they have lost some motor skills; speech therapy to help them if they have trouble speaking; and occupational therapy to enable them to conduct daily activities independently again.
