Signs your child may have a brain tumor

Did you know brain and spinal cord tumors are the second most common cancers in children, accounting for about 1 out of 4 childhood cancers? In fact, more than 4,000 children and teens are diagnosed each year. * While the condition can feel scary, experts at Riley Children’s Health are here to help you with the condition.

In this blog, we discuss everything you need to know about brain and spinal cord tumors in children—what they are, common symptoms, and diagnosis and treatment options.

About pediatric brain tumors

Brain and spinal cord tumors are abnormal cell growths that can develop quickly or slowly in the brain or spine. While the exact cause is unknown, some risk factors include exposure to radiation (like microwaves, CT scans, X-rays, etc.) or existing genetic conditions. It is important to remember that there is nothing you or your child could have done to prevent one from occurring.

Brain and spinal cord tumor symptoms in kids

Symptoms of brain or spinal cord tumors depend on the tumor’s size, type and location. Symptoms may be caused when a tumor presses on a nerve or damages a part of the brain. They may also be caused by a tumor blocking fluid that flows through and around the brain, causing the brain to swell.

If your child is experiencing the following common signs and symptoms, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional immediately:

• Balance problems
• Changes in vision, hearing or speech
• Difficulty walking
• Fatigue or sleepiness
• Headaches, especially when waking up in the morning
• Increased head size
• Memory problems
• Nausea and vomiting
• Personality or behavior changes
• Scoliosis
• Seizures

Diagnosis and treatment options

If you suspect a brain or spinal cord tumor in your child, your pediatric provider will first start with a thorough medical history and physical examination. Other procedures and tests may also be needed to get diagnosis. The Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at Riley Children’s consists of a multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologists, neuroradiologists, and more that may perform or order advanced imaging, such as:

• Angiogram
• Biopsy
• Computed tomography (CT)
• Lumbar puncture/spinal tap
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
• X-rays

Once a brain or spinal cord tumor is diagnosed, a customized treatment plan will be recommended depending on the size and location of the tumor. Your child’s general health status and age will also determine the best treatment options. Some of the common treatments are:

• Surveillance: Involves monitoring with routine MRIs and appointments to ensure no growth of the tumor and no symptom development.
• Surgery: This is often the first step of treatment to remove some or all the tumor to help guide further medical care, if needed.
• Chemotherapy: A form of medicine that attacks the growing cells of the tumor.
• Radiation therapy: This method uses high-energy beams to kill or shrink the cancer cells.

Prognosis

While about 3 out of 4 children with brain or spinal cord tumors survive at least five years after diagnosis*, your child’s long-term outlook depends on the type, size and location of the tumor, as well as your child’s age and overall health.

Follow-up care and resources

After completion of treatment, regular follow-ups with your medical team are essential to managing your child’s condition. These are important to monitor for worsening symptoms, tumor recurrence, effectiveness of treatment, and managing late effects of treatment. Some children require inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy to help their recovery. You will have direct access to your medical team to help guide and answer any questions that may arise throughout your child’s journey. Riley Children’s also offers a Cancer Survivorship Program, AYA Program, Fertility Preservation and the only Stem Cell Transplant Program in Indiana for additional follow-up care options.

Expert team at Riley Children’s

While the idea of brain or spine cancer can be overwhelming, there’s always hope with the help from the Comprehensive Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at Riley Children’s. Through our unique neurosurgery-oncology partnership, our highly skilled team has access to the latest surgical techniques, clinical (medical) trials and state-of-the-art imaging to help your child at every step of the way. To learn more, visit Pediatric Neurosurgery or Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Riley Children’s.

*Source: American Cancer Society