you or your child’s skull (intracranial pressure) due to swelling or hydrocephalus.
In addition to surgical removal of the tumor, the doctor may sometimes recommend a shunt to help drain cerebrospinal fluid buildup and steroid treatments to reduce tumor swelling.
Surgery is followed by radiation and chemotherapy. These therapies address cancer cells that might have been unreachable by surgery and those that have spread from the tumor to other parts of the brain or spinal cord. Medulloblastoma spread and recurrence is common; radiation and chemotherapy can reduce the risks.
This three-part approach – surgery, radiation and chemotherapy – can offer survival in up to 75 percent of patients. It is important to understand that each of the three treatments, especially radiation treatment of the brain, may cause complications that could affect your child’s development.
It is essential to discuss each stage of your child’s therapy thoroughly with your doctors so you can make informed choices for your child and understand potential benefits and risks.
How is Isabella Doing Now?
“I’m feeling good, not too bad,” Isabella said. “I’m very excited for this whole process to wrap, but you just have to keep living every day, I think, through the whole thing.”