Medulloblastoma is a tumor of the cerebellum

Medulloblastoma is a malignant tumor that affects the central nervous system and originates in embryonic cells. Therefore, this disease is most often found in children under 10 years of age (70% of all intracranial tumors), and is observed in boys 2-3 times more often than in girls.

Medulloblastoma cases in adults account for 4 percent of all intracranial tumors.

Medulloblastoma is a tumor that originates in the cerebellum and is one of the few whose metastases affect the pathways through which the spinal cord fraction flows, the soft tissues of the spinal cord and brain, the ependyma of the cerebral ventricles...

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Causes of Medulloblastoma

For the most part, the causes of medulloblastoma remain unknown to this day, it is difficult to even guess what is the impetus or starting point that triggers the mechanism of development and growth of malignant cells. Therefore, it is quite difficult for doctors to give any recommendations on prevention.

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Symptoms of medulloblastoma

The main symptoms of medulloblastoma, which this disease manifests, are:

• Increased intracranial pressure.
• Increased headaches.
• Nausea, vomiting (more often in the morning).
• Loss of strength, irritability.
• Weakening of vision.
• Rapid fatigue.
• Impaired coordination of movement may occur.
• Memory impairment.
• Stiffness and muscle weakness in the neck.

Desmoplastic medulloblastoma

After conducting histological studies, doctors distinguish two types of manifestation of this disease: the main, or classic medulloblastoma, which is detected in 70-80% of cases of the total number of patients, and, less common, desmoplastic medulloblastoma. Research and subsequent results show that the long-term prognosis for the treatment of a desmoplastic tumor is more favorable than with its classic manifestation. These cells are more pliable when applied to them by radiation and chemotherapy.

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Medulloblastoma in children

The manifestation of medulloblastoma in children can be expressed by a decrease in overall academic performance at school, pain factors when trying to write something. The manifestation of symptoms largely depends on the size of the tumor and its location. When metastases penetrate the spinal cord, back pain, problems with the intestines and bladder appear.

Diagnosis of medulloblastoma

Only a doctor can diagnose cerebellar medulloblastoma after conducting a series of studies. Such as: computed tomography (CT) with contrast and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Usually, medulloblastoma is distinguished as an accumulator of a special substance of a contrasting color forming an oval or circle shape, visualized in the cerebellum. MR diagnostics and a spinal puncture are also carried out to answer the question about the absence or presence of metastases in it. Timely diagnosis of medulloblastoma (concerns all medicine and especially oncological diseases) is not just a favorable and more gentle outcome of treatment, but also literally an “additional weight” on the scales in favor of life and against death.

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Treatment of medulloblastoma

Treatment of medulloblastoma involves two complementary areas of medicine: neurosurgery (covering the first stage) surgical intervention and neurooncology, which is responsible for the patient's postoperative recovery. At the second stage, the patient receives chemotherapy, radiation, and drug support.

Surgical intervention

In this case, cerebellar vermis medulloblastoma cannot be treated one-sidedly. To defeat the tumor developing in the cerebellum of the brain and give the patient a chance to return to society and a full life after the hospital, a comprehensive approach to treatment is necessary. This includes surgical intervention, which is often indispensable, and chemotherapy and radiation exposure. If surgery is impossible for some medical reasons, radiosurgical exposure is used on the areas of the cerebellum occupied by medulloblastoma. When performing the operation, the surgeon strives to remove as many cells affected by the malignant tumor as possible. But no matter how high the level of the operation is, the surgeon cannot guarantee that all affected areas have been removed, then it will simply not be possible to avoid the use of radiosurgical exposure (for example, metastases have already penetrated the brain stem, or the location of the tumor is such that it is not possible to completely remove it surgically). To prevent future relapses, treatment of medulloblastoma necessarily includes radiotherapy.

In our country, such therapy in the postoperative period is indicated for all patients, including children over 3 years old. Since medulloblastoma often manifests itself as metastases to the spinal cord, it is quite natural that both the brain and spinal cord are subject to irradiation. This is often done for preventive purposes (regardless of the results of MRI of the spine) to prevent further growth of metastases. Children under 3 years of age are not subjected to radiation therapy. The treatment of this pathology does not involve the use of a gamma knife.

Chemotherapy for medulloblastoma

Chemotherapy is also an essential element of recovery. To date, medulloblastoma treatment does not have a clearly developed scheme for the use of chemical drugs, as there are no standards. To prevent repeated relapses and for preventive purposes (especially in patients with an increased risk of relapse), lomustine and vincristine are most often used.

The protocol for combating medulloblastoma includes fairly large doses of drugs such as Cyclophosphamide, Lomustine, Carboplatin, Cisplatin, Vincristine and others. The main factors for the indication of these drugs are: maximum tumor removal, the presence of metastasis and the patient's age. And only a specialist can select the right drug and determine its dosage.

• Vincristine. It is used once a week intravenously both by jet and drip. For adults - 1÷1.4 mg/m2 (single dose - no more than 2 mg/m2). The dosage is reduced in case of liver dysfunction. For children - once a week, the dosage depends on the baby's weight. The drug cannot be administered intramuscularly - tissue necrosis is possible.
• Lomustine is also used for medulloblastoma. The dosage is selected individually. For children and adults, orally, the initial dose is 100÷130 mg/m2 (once) every 6 weeks or every 3 weeks 75 mg/m2. The dose can be adjusted when working with other drugs. The use of this drug is contraindicated in hypersensitivity, severe kidney and liver pathologies...
• Cyclophosphamide. Intravenously. Every other day - 0.2 g. Course - 8-14 g. As maintenance doses: intramuscularly or intravenously 0.1-0.2 g twice a week. Contraindicated in severe anemia, heart failure, severe renal and hepatic pathology...
• And others.

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Diet and regimen for medulloblastoma

Treatment and prevention of medulloblastoma involve a comprehensive approach to this problem. It is impossible to limit yourself to surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy without changing your entire lifestyle and reviewing your diet. The diet of patients with medulloblastoma should be rational. The body needs to receive all the components of food, including vitamins and minerals. In cancer patients, the basic metabolism changes significantly (it directly depends on the load received during treatment). The patient often loses appetite, refusing to eat, or consumes foods whose caloric content is clearly insufficient to restore the patient's strength.

When choosing products for cancer patients, including medulloblastoma, it is necessary to follow the recommendations voiced by nutritionists: the food consumed should contain about 55% carbohydrates, 30% fats, 15% proteins. In various diseases and situations, minor adjustments to the ratios are permissible. One of the main problems of all cancer patients is cachexia (exhaustion), which is very dangerous for the patient's life. Therefore, it is necessary to eat small portions, but often.

Chemotherapy, not so long ago was accompanied by vomiting and nausea, which did not contribute to an increase in appetite, the new generation of drugs does not give such a reaction. When undergoing this procedure, you must not forget to take a sufficient amount of liquid (soups, mineral water, tea, still water). When taking chemotherapy drugs, you must be prepared for a possible change in taste preferences - do not be afraid, this is normal. Inflammatory phenomena in the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus are possible. In this case, rinsing with antiseptic agents to neutralize fungi and bacteria will help. It is necessary to remove black bread and fruits with vegetables containing a high percentage of balance substances from the diet. During this period of treatment for medulloblastoma, it is useful to eat white bread crackers, rice, vermicelli. In the acute phase of the disease, it is necessary to introduce rice, barley and oat mucus into the diet, the basis of which is salted vegetable broth. Of the vegetables, it is better to focus on carrots, zucchini, asparagus. Apple and apricot compotes are useful. To restore and support intestinal flora, include yogurt and kefir (preferably with live bacteria) in your diet. The same menu can be followed when undergoing radiation procedures.

You can read more about nutrition in Lev Kruglyak's book "Therapeutic Nutrition for Cancer"

Treatment of medulloblastoma at home

Existing, often innovative, methods of treating a patient with medulloblastoma are quite effective. However, unconventional methods of fighting the disease, which have recently become popular, often lead to serious, and in some cases, irreparable consequences, including the death of the patient. Therefore, if you value your life or the life of a loved one, never self-medicate. Do not waste time, only timely contact with a specialist will give you a chance to cope with medulloblastoma. Traditional methods of treatment are great if they do not conflict with the main treatment protocol.

After discharge from the hospital home, it is better to organize a full diet and regime for the patient with medulloblastoma according to the doctors' orders. Relatives will have to adjust to the new schedule and menu. It is necessary to select not only a set of products acceptable for the discharged patient, but also take into account his wishes and tastes. Often, you have to come up with various tricks to fully feed the picky eater.

Not the last, but perhaps one of the main points of rehabilitation is full support and understanding of the family – the psychological factor is of no small importance.

Treatment of medulloblastoma with folk methods

It is worth reminding respondents that traditional medicine, when used skillfully, can bring many benefits: support the body, help stop the unfavorable processes that occur in the body of a patient with medulloblastoma.

This is a small part of the knowledge that healers can share with us.

In case of malignant tumor:

• Recipe 1. Before starting the preparation, cut and rinse the aloe leaves. Wrap in white cloth, squeeze out the juice after twenty-one days. Three glasses of May honey, 1 glass of aloe juice, 2 glasses of "Cahors". Mix all ingredients in a 2-liter jar. Let stand for five days in a cool place (refrigerator or basement).

Take: three times a day, 1 teaspoon for five days. The next three days - 1 tablespoon three times a day 1 hour before meals. Duration of use - from 3 to 4 weeks to one and a half months.

For preventive and supportive purposes:

• Recipe 2. Soak figs and dried apricots in cold water for one hour, maintaining a 1:1 ratio, and chop. In the same proportion, take ground oxalo (walnut) nuts and 1÷2 medium lemons, cut into pieces with the peel. Put all the products in a 3-liter jar and pour honey over them. If it is too thick, then mix it with all the ingredients before putting it in the jar.

Take: 1÷2 tbsp. three times a day before meals, after soaking in kefir.

• Recipe 3. During sunrise, pick young nettles. Pour cool water over them and leave for about an hour. Grind. Crush in a mortar. Mix with crushed young garlic (the proportions are taken to your taste and based on the state of the gastrointestinal system). Stir in chopped sorrel, nettles, spinach (ratio 1:1), parsley, dill, boiled egg whites, season with apple cider vinegar or any vegetable oil and lemon juice.
• Recipe 4. Take mistletoe flowers (best picked from fruit trees) and tansy flowers, 1 tbsp. each, and 2 tbsp. fresh celandine. Pour 1/2 l of water over the mixture. Boil. Leave overnight. Strain.

Directions: Take in small sips throughout the day.

Recurrence of medulloblastoma

All medications are taken only under strict medical supervision. No doctor can answer these questions unequivocally how well the patient will cope with his disease, whether a relapse of medulloblastoma is likely. But, nevertheless, it is possible and necessary to talk about some kind of prognosis. The patient must want to recover. Positive dynamics of the course can be predicted if the patient seeks help at an early stage of the disease. The patient's age and whether there is metastasis, how deeply it has affected the body, are also important. If the patient seeks help at an early stage and has received a full course of treatment, then the five-year survival rate is ≈ 75%. And the worst prognosis is for those patients who have experienced a repeated relapse of medulloblastoma. Such patients live on average no more than 13-18 months.

Prognosis of medulloblastoma

If you support your body with such infusions, then the prognosis for medulloblastoma will undoubtedly be more positive than without supportive therapy.

You should not refuse periodic preventive examination, especially for those who have a history of predisposition to oncological diseases, in particular to medulloblastoma: professional activity, genetic predisposition... But if you have unpleasant sensations, frequent headaches, do not postpone a visit to the doctor for later. It is better to get a negative result than to reproach yourself for laziness and busyness.