Consumer Information

Open Brain Surgery With Chemotherapy For Malignant Glioma

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Open brain surgery with chemotherapy for malignant glioma is done to remove a tumor (lump) from the brain. The brain is made up of neurons which transmit and receive signals, and glial cells which support and nourish neurons. A malignant glioma forms when glial cells become cancer. The glial cancer cells grow and divide without control or order. These cancer cells often make too much tissue and affect other nearby structures in the brain. During an open brain surgery or craniotomy, you may either be asleep or awake. Caregivers will do a craniotomy by drilling a hole or removing a part of the skull to expose the brain. During the surgery, brain mapping may be done to check the activities in the different areas of the brain. These include areas of the brain used for speaking, moving, seeing, smelling, and understanding.
Your caregiver may also need to do stereotaxy to remove your malignant glioma. In stereotaxy, scanned images of the brain will show pictures in three-dimensional (3-D) views. This will help caregivers clearly see the different brain areas while watching the images in a monitor. Stereotaxy may enable caregivers to target and remove the glioma more accurately. Chemotherapy is medicine used to treat cancer. During surgery, wafer-like chemotherapy medicine will be placed in your brain. These medicines will help kill cancer cells that may have spread to other areas in the brain. You and your caregiver will decide if this type of surgery for your malignant glioma is right for you. With open brain surgery with chemotherapy, the malignant glioma may be removed, and the symptoms it causes relieved.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Medicines:

Keep a list of your medicines: Keep a written list of the medicines you take, the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregivers. Do not take any medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements without first talking to caregivers.
Take your medicine as directed: Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your caregiver if you think your medicines are not helping or if you feel you are having side effects. Do not quit taking your medicines until you discuss it with your caregiver.
Antibiotics: This medicine is given to fight or prevent an infection caused by bacteria. Always take your antibiotics exactly as ordered by your caregiver. Keep taking this medicine until it is completely gone, even if you feel better. Stopping antibiotics without your caregiver's OK may make the medicine unable to kill all of the germs. Never "save" antibiotics or take leftover antibiotics that were given to you for another illness.
Pain medicine: You may be given medicine to take at home to take away or decrease pain. Your caregiver will tell you how much to take and how often to take it. Take the medicine exactly as directed by your caregiver. Do not wait until the pain is too bad before taking your medicine. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it. Tell caregivers if the pain medicine does not help, or if your pain comes back too soon.
Your caregiver may slowly decrease the amount of steroid medicine you are using. Do not change the amount or stop using this medicine until your caregiver tells you to.
If you are having chemotherapy, take your medicine exactly as you are told.

Ask your caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your next visit.

Your caregiver will tell you when the sutures or staples in your head will be removed. Ask your caregiver how to take care of your sutures and staples at home.

Diet: It is important that you get good nutrition when you have cancer. Eat a variety of healthy foods from all the food groups. The food groups include breads, vegetables, fruits, milk and milk products, and protein (beans, eggs, poultry, meat and fish). Eating healthy foods may help you feel better and have more energy. You may need to make diet changes depending on your tolerance, the location of your cancer, or treatment side effects. For example, if you have trouble swallowing, try eating foods that are soft or in liquid form. Ask your caregiver if you should add special drinks or vitamins to your diet. Tell your caregiver if you are nauseated, vomiting, or have other problems eating or digesting your food.

Wound care: When you are allowed to bathe or shower, carefully wash the incision with soap and water. Afterwards, put on clean, new bandages. Change your bandage any time it gets wet or dirty. Ask your caregivers for more information about wound care.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

You have a fever (increased body temperature).
You have chills, a cough, or feel weak and achy.
You have dizziness, nausea (upset stomach), or vomiting (throwing up).
Your bandage becomes soaked with blood.
Your skin is itchy, swollen, or has a rash.
You have questions or concerns about your surgery, condition, or care.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

You have a fever, stiff neck, or eye pain, especially when looking directly at the lights.
You have pus or a foul-smelling odor coming from your incision.
You have severe headache that does not go away even after taking pain medicines.
You have trouble breathing, seeing, talking, or thinking clearly.
You passed out or had a seizure (convulsion).
Your face is getting numb or you cannot move your arms or legs.
Your symptoms come back or become worse.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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