Medulloblastoma

Medulloblastomas are a type of brain tumour.

A medulloblastoma is a type of cancerous (malignant) tumour. It starts in or near part of the brain called the cerebellum. It can spread to other parts of the brain or to the spinal cord, usually through the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF is the fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and the spinal cord. It is very rare for medulloblastoma to spread to other parts of the body.

This type of brain tumour is rare in adults. But it is one of the most common brain tumours in in children. This information is about medulloblastoma in adults.

For more information about medulloblastoma in children, you can contact the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group.

The cause of medulloblastoma is unknown, but research is being done to find out more.

This type of tumour usually affects people under the age of 45.

We have more information about risk factors and causes of brain tumours.

The main treatments for medulloblastoma are surgery and radiotherapy. You may also have chemotherapy. Your treatment depends on:

• the size and position of the tumour the symptoms you have
• your age
• sometimes, the biomarker results.

A team of specialists will plan your treatment. Your specialist doctor and nurse will explain the aims of your treatment and what it involves. They will talk to you about the benefits and disadvantages of different treatment types. They will also explain the risks and side effects.

You may be given a choice of treatment options. You will have time to talk about this with your hospital team before you make any treatment decisions.

You will need to give permission (consent) for the hospital staff to give you the treatment. Ask any questions about anything you do not understand or feel worried about. Tell your specialist if you need more information or more time to decide on a treatment.

You may have surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible. Your surgeon will explain your operation and what to expect. After surgery, you will have radiotherapy.

After your surgery you will also have a scan to see if any of the tumour has been left behind. If there is any tumour remaining, you may be offered further surgery to try to remove this.

Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to destroy the tumour cells. Radiotherapy is given as a small dose (fraction) once every day, from Monday to Friday for several weeks. Your cancer doctor (oncologist) will tell you how long your treatment will last and the type of radiotherapy you will have.

You will need to have radiotherapy to the whole brain and to the spinal cord (cranio-spinal radiotherapy). This is because medulloblastomas can spread to these areas through the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). You will usually have extra doses of radiotherapy (a boost) to:

• the area of the brain where the medulloblastoma started
• any other areas where tumour was seen on a scan.

Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer drugs to destroy tumour cells. You may also have chemotherapy with or, after radiotherapy. Your doctor will explain whether chemotherapy might be helpful in your situation.

You may need treatment for the symptoms of a medulloblastoma before you have any treatment for the tumour. You may also need your symptoms managed during your main treatment or, for a while after it has finished.

You may have:

• steroids to reduce swelling around the tumour
• surgery to place a long, thin tube, called a shunt – this lets some of the fluid drain from the brain to another area of the body, to reduce pressure inside the skull
• anti-sickness medication to help sickness (nausea) or dizziness that can be caused by the tumour or treatment.

Sometimes a brain tumour cannot be removed or controlled anymore. If this happens you can still have treatment for any symptoms. You will have supportive care (sometimes called palliative care) from a specialist doctor or nurse who is an expert at managing symptoms.

We have more information about coping with advanced cancer.

Clinical trials are medical research trials involving people. Doctors may use clinical trials to test new treatments, find new drugs, or improve the way treatments are given.

Because these tumours are rare, there may not always be a relevant clinical trial happening. If there is, your doctor or nurse may ask you to think about taking part.

They will give you information about the clinical trial so that you understand what it means to take part. If you decide not to take part in a trial, your specialist doctor and nurse will respect your decision. You do not have to give a reason for not taking part. Your decision will not change your care. Your doctor will give you the standard treatment for the type of tumour you have.

We have more information about clinical trials.