Neuro-oncology

“There are many different types of brain tumour. The symptoms and severity of such tumours depend on their location, their size and their aggressiveness, i.e. the speed at which they develop.”(INCa – French National Cancer Institute)

Learn more on the official website of INCa, the French National Cancer Institute (summary version available in English)

First and foremost, patients receiving treatment for brain tumours undergo surgery in the neurosurgical department of Rennes University Teaching Hospital.

Either a sample of the tumour is taken (biopsy) or the tumour is removed (surgical exeresis of all or most of the tumour).

Surgery is an essential part of treatment, as it allows doctors to identify the brain tumour, which is formed by uncontrolled cell growth.

Tumours are defined according to their location in the brain (such as the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, temporal lobe or cerebellum), the histological cell type (brain support tissue known as “glia”, protective brain tissue known as “meninges”, etc.), any genetic anomalies and the tumour grade. If the tumour can be removed safely, this is the preferred treatment.

The patient’s file is discussed at a multidisciplinary team meeting attended by neurosurgeons, radiotherapists, oncologists, anatomical pathologists, radiologists and neurologists.

Post-surgery treatment may include radiotherapy, chemotherapy or a combination of the two.

Patients are cared for at the Eugène Marquis Centre, where they are visited by a radiotherapist or oncologist. The patient is offered a support consultation with the radiotherapy technician or a neuro-oncology nurse.

Various types of radiotherapy are used at the Eugène Marquis Centre depending on the type and location of the tumour, including intensity-modulated radiotherapy and stereotactic radiotherapy using CyberKnife technology.

The type of chemotherapy used depends on the type and grade of the brain tumour. Capsules, tablets or intravenous therapy, or a combination of options, may be used depending on the treatment plan. Patients may be invited to participate in clinical trials, depending on their general well-being and the type of tumour.