Standard treatment for this condition is radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is the treatment of tumors by means of xrays. Although most tumors eventually regrow, radiation treatments often delay regrowth for extended periods, sometimes years. Some tumors never regrow after standard treatment but this is uncommon. Doctors have noticed that this type of brain cancer often responds to chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy is the treatment of tumors by means of chemicals.
When given before radiation therapy, PCV shrinks most newly diagnosed tumors. It can also shrink those tumors that regrow after radiation. Doctors are studying the best way to use chemotherapy and radiation therapy in the treatment of these tumors. If early aggressive treatment does not control the tumor more effectively than standard treatment, then chemotherapy can be held in reserve until the tumor recurs. Chemotherapy might even be omitted altogether should the tumor never regrow.