The management of brain and spinal cord tumors is determined by the type of tumor, where it is located, its size and the age of the patient. Treatment may consist of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. There are times where no intervention is required, and the tumor will simply be monitored with periodic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
The length of treatment depends on multiple factors, including the type of tumor and whether or not surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy are required. However, all children diagnosed with a brain or spinal cord tumor will be followed by our team throughout the course of their therapy and survivorship until they reach adulthood and transition to an adult neuro-oncology program.