A meningioma diagnosis changes everything. Suddenly, you are navigating unfamiliar medical territory, weighing treatment options, and trying to process what lies ahead. While your healthcare team focuses on removing or shrinking the tumor, the therapies themselves can bring their own set of challenges. Knowing what to expect from meningioma treatments can help you prepare for the road ahead. If you suffered a brain tumor due to use of Depo-Provera, our attorneys can help.
Common Treatment Options for Meningioma
Your treatment plan will depend on several factors, including the size and location of your tumor, how quickly it’s growing, and your overall health. Your medical team will tailor their approach to your condition, but here are the most common treatment options you might encounter:
- Observation: For small, slow-growing tumors with minimal symptoms, your doctor may conduct regular imaging and monitoring to determine the right approach.
- Surgery: Surgical removal offers the best chance for a full recovery when the tumor can be safely and completely removed.
- Radiation therapy: High-energy beams target cancer cells to destroy them or prevent further growth. This approach can also treat some noncancerous meningiomas.
- Radiosurgery: This precise, targeted radiation delivery helps stop tumor growth and is typically reserved for small, benign tumors.
- Chemotherapy: Though rare, chemotherapy may be recommended for tumors that return or do not respond to surgery and radiation.
Risks Associated with Surgical Removal
Surgery remains one of the most effective treatments for meningioma, but it carries inherent and potentially life-changing risks. The potential complications depend largely on where your tumor is located and how accessible it is.
Side effects associated with surgical removal include:
- Infection: Bacteria can enter the surgical site, leading to serious complications that may require additional treatment or hospitalization.
- Hemorrhage: Bleeding during or after surgery can create dangerous pressure on the brain and can be life-threatening without medical intervention.
- Stroke: Damage to blood vessels during the procedure can interrupt blood flow to parts of the brain, triggering a stroke.
- Neurological Changes: Depending on the tumor’s location, you may experience changes in vision, speech, motor function, or cognitive abilities after surgery.
- Anesthesia Complications: Reactions to anesthesia can range from mild nausea to serious cardiovascular or respiratory problems.
Side Effects of Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy can be highly effective, but it often comes with side effects that impact your daily life. You may experience fatigue, headaches, nausea, and skin irritation at the treatment site. You could develop hair loss in the treated area or notice memory and concentration difficulties.
These effects can make it hard to maintain your normal routine, forcing you to take time off work or step back from family responsibilities. Simple tasks that once felt effortless may suddenly require extra effort and rest.
Get Legal Help for Your Depo-Provera Meningioma Case
Facing a meningioma diagnosis is difficult enough, but the treatments themselves can introduce a host of additional complications. When your tumor developed after years of trusting Depo-Provera as a safe contraceptive option, enduring these treatment side effects feels especially unjust.
If you believe your meningioma is linked to Depo-Provera use, Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC can help you seek justice. We will work tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve for your medical care, loss of quality of life, and complications associated with your meningioma treatments. Contact us at (800) 220-0984 to explore your legal options today.