Brain tumors can disrupt vital neurological functions and potentially threaten your life when left untreated. Whether malignant or benign, these growths require prompt medical attention to prevent further damage to surrounding brain tissue. Your medical team will evaluate factors like tumor type, size, location, and overall health to develop a personalized treatment plan, which may incorporate the following approaches. The Depo-Provera brain tumor injury attorneys at Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC are ready to assist if your medical condition is due to an unsafe medication.
Surgical Interventions
Surgery is typically the first step in brain tumor treatment. Your neurosurgeon may perform a craniotomy, temporarily removing a piece of skull to reach and remove the tumor. For tumors in sensitive brain areas, you might have awake brain surgery where you remain conscious so doctors can ensure your speech and movement are not affected.
Less invasive options include neuroendoscopy, which accesses tumors through natural openings like the nose, and MRI-guided laser ablation, which destroys cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. Biopsies extract small tumor samples for laboratory analysis, helping your doctor determine the exact tumor type and the optimal course of treatment.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation uses energy beams to destroy tumor cells or slow their growth. The most common type is external beam radiation therapy, which directs radiation to your tumor and nearby tissue, or sometimes to your whole brain if needed. For hard-to-reach tumors, stereotactic radiosurgery uses smaller, more targeted beams to reach tumors with pinpoint accuracy while avoiding damage to surrounding areas. Proton therapy delivers radiation at the particle level, reducing side effects by limiting exposure to healthy regions of the brain.
Targeted Drug Therapies
These medications attack specific problems in tumor cells while sparing as much healthy tissue in the brain as possible. For example, bevacizumab works by blocking the formation of blood vessels that tumors need to grow. For tumors with specific genetic changes, drugs like vorasidenib help abnormal cells mature into more normal ones. Everolimus targets proteins that drive cell division in certain types of tumors. These treatments typically cause fewer side effects than standard chemotherapy and often work alongside surgery or radiation.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is rarely used on its own but may help supplement other forms of brain tumor treatment. These drugs travel throughout your body to kill cancer cells that might remain after surgery or radiation. One specialized type of chemotherapy for brain tumors is Gliadel wafers: small, biodegradable discs that are placed directly in the space after the growth is removed, releasing cancer-fighting medication exactly where it’s needed most.
Seeking Justice for Brain Tumors Caused by Depo-Provera
Recent medical research has established links between Depo-Provera and meningioma development. This hormonal contraceptive can stimulate the growth of these typically benign but potentially serious brain tumors, especially with long-term use. If you’ve been diagnosed with a meningioma after using Depo-Provera, you may have legal grounds to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and other damages.
Dealing with brain tumor treatment requires all your strength and focus. If your diagnosis may be linked to Depo-Provera use, Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC can handle the legal burden while you concentrate on healing. With over 20 years of experience in dangerous drug litigation, our attorneys are not afraid to stand up to pharmaceutical giants. Contact us at (800) 220-0984 today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your options for justice.