children s health issues
Astrocytomas
Treatment of Astrocytomas
Surgery (if possible) Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or both (See also Cancer Treatment Principles .) are Surgery for Cancer . If the astrocytoma is completely removed, children may not need any other treatment. Sometimes, surgery is not possible. Chemotherapy and Other Systemic Cancer Treatments is used in children who have a tumor that cannot be removed surgically or that progresses or returns after surgery. Radiation therapy is rarely used to treat low-grade astrocytomas because it can interfere with growth and brain development. Most low-grade astrocytomas can be treated successfully, and children can be long-term survivors. are treated with a combination of surgery (if possible) and Radiation Therapy for Cancer (see The outlook is worse for children with a high-grade tumor, in whom the overall survival is only 20 to 30% 3 years after treatment. 