Brain Metastasis

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 4, 2025.

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Brain metastasis is cancer that has spread within your brain or spreads from your body to your brain. Some examples are lung, breast, skin, and colon cancer.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent

is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

Medicines:

• Steroid medicine helps reduce swelling in the head and body.
• Anticonvulsant medicine helps decrease or stop seizures.
• Blood thinners help prevent blood clots. Blood thinners make it more likely for you to bleed or bruise.
• Inhibitor medicines may be given to help destroy the cancer cells. One medicine helps your immune system kill the cancer cells. Another medicine makes cancer cells die by preventing them from being repaired. This helps keep cancer from progressing as quickly.

Drugs used to treat this and similar conditions

Tests:

• A neurologic exam can show healthcare providers how your brain is working. Other names for this test include neuro signs, neuro checks, or neuro status. Healthcare providers will check how your pupils react to light. They may check your memory and how easily you wake up. Your hand grasp and balance may also be tested.
• A CT or MRI may show the size and location of any tumors. You may be given contrast liquid to help tumors show up better on the scan. Tell the healthcare provider if you have ever had an allergic reaction to contrast liquid. Do not enter the MRI room with metal. Metal can cause serious injury. Tell the healthcare provider if you have any metal in or on your body.
• A PET scan uses a substance called a tracer to help show injuries or diseases inside the brain, such as tumors. The tracer is given through an IV or breathed in as a gas.

Treatment:

Radiation and surgery may continue if you are receiving chemotherapy, radiation, or other treatment for cancer in another part of your body. You may also need any of the following:

• Whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) is used to help treat brain tumors and to prevent new tumors from forming. WBRT can help you maintain your normal daily activities during treatment.
• Surgery may be used if you have a single tumor. During surgery such as craniotomy, healthcare providers open your skull and remove the tumor. Surgery can quickly relieve vision loss or other problems if a tumor is affecting an area of the brain that controls vision, hearing, or movement.
• Radiosurgery targets cancer cells without harming healthy brain tissue. You may need radiosurgery if you have more than one tumor or if you cannot have open surgery, such as craniotomy.

Treatment options

The following list of medications are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

• lomustine
• Gleostine
• Gliadel
• CeeNU
• BiCNU

View more treatment options

RISKS:

Cancer and its treatment increase your risk for blood clots. A blood clot in your leg can break loose and travel to your lungs. This can be life-threatening.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your healthcare providers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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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.

Further information

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