05/27/2026
May is Brain Cancer Awareness Month
Radiation therapy is the primary treatment, so wanted to share some information about it. The majority of children with brain tumours end up needing radiation to control swelling, and help shrink the tumour.
I want you to look at the photo I have included. When they make the mold, the staff push the soft material onto the face and locks it into place. They then quickly blow air on the mask while locked onto the patients face to dry and harden it. This takes a about 5 minutes but probably eternity to the patient. Now see those white T's on the bottom around the head? Those are the locks. When ready for treatment, you would lay on the hard uncomfortable table, and the staff would proceed to lock the head to the table. This is obviously for safety reasons so there is no movement during radiation. Can you imagine how it would feel having your head locked to a table and unable to move it? Now try and put yourself in a child's shoes doing the exact thing. How terrifying it is. Some children have to be sedated and put to sleep for a 5 min session. What a terrible feeling for that child. This is why I call cancer kids strong and brave. The things they endure as a treatment is mind blowing.
--Radiation therapy may be advised for tumors that are sensitive to this treatment. Conventional radiation therapy uses external beams of x-rays, gamma rays or protons aimed at the tumor to kill cancer cells and shrink brain tumors
--The therapy is usually given over a period of several weeks
--Side effects may not occur until two to three weeks after the start of your therapy. Many people experience hair loss and skin issues, but the amount varies from person to person.
--The second most frequently reported side effect is a skin irritation. The skin around your ears and scalp may become dry, itchy, red or tender.
--Fatigue is another possible side effect of radiation therapy. Fatigue may be worst two to three weeks after completion of a prolonged (multi-week) radiation treatment.
--Edema, or swelling of the brain, is also prevalent. Usually steroids are prescribed to treat the edema
--Other possible side effects include:
hearing problems
nausea
vomiting
loss of appetite
memory or speech problems
headaches
---Radiation is a powerful weapon against cancer cells, but sometimes it kills healthy brain tissue as well—a severe side effect called radiation necrosis. Necrosis (a late effect of high doses of radiation) can cause headaches, seizures, or even death in a small number of cases. This can occur six months to a few years after treatment.
--However, the risk of necrosis has declined in recent years with the advent of the newer and the emergence of powerful imaging, brain mapping and information technologies.
--Other complications include:
neurologic deficits (this usually depends on the area of the brain being treated)
cognitive problems
seizures
headaches
return of tumor growth
--In children, radiation may damage the pituitary gland and other parts of the brain. This could cause learning problems or slow growth and development. Additionally, radiation during childhood increases the risk of developing tumors later in life.
http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=thera-brain
