Follow-up Care for Childhood Brain Stem Glioma

Executive Summary

Follow-up care for brain stem glioma in children refers to the after-treatment protocols conducted by the healthcare team to look after recurrence, manage the side effects, and monitor the patients’ overall health. Both medical and physical examinations are included in the follow-up care of brain stem gliomas. Watching the recurrence of brain stem gliomas in children is seen in test reports of follow-up care. The follow-up care for this includes neurological tests, physical examinations, and imaging tests like CT scans and MRI to check for cancer recurrence. The symptoms related to brain stem glioma, if occur, are immediately informed to the doctors. The doctor will propose checks and testing to check for late effects based on the sort of brain stem glioma treatment the child underwent.

Managing the side effects while receiving treatment is a critical follow-up care approach. Personalizing the follow-up care plan is essential for children with brain stem glioma conducted by the medical care team. Effective communication with the doctor regarding the long term effects of all the treatments will be effective in the future.

Follow-up Care of Brain Stem Glioma- Childhood

About the Follow-up care for Brain stem Gliomas, Care for a cancer patient does not end with the end of active treatment that was going on. Even after that, the health care team looks after the cancer recurrence, managing the side effects developed due to the treatment and monitoring your overall health. It is called follow up care. All children treated for brain stem glioma should have life-long, Follow-up care for Brain stem Glioma ^​1​.

Your Follow-up care includes medical tests, physical examination or both. 

Doctors usually keep track of your child’s recovery in the months and years ahead. MRI scans are done at regular intervals, and a history and physical examination are best to monitor if the tumor is stable or is trying to come back.

Cancer rehabilitation is usually recommended, and this could mean any of a wide range of services, such as physical therapy, career counselling, pain management, nutritional planning, and emotional counselling. 

Follow-up care for Brain stem Glioma includes Watching for recurrence

One of the things to take care of after cancer treatment is recurrence. Cancer recurrence happens when a few cancerous cells remain even after treatment; they again grow until they show up any signs or symptoms or are seen in test reports. 

Scan-xiety is often used for the stress the patient or the family can have before the follow-up care for Brain stem Glioma tests.

Also Read: Exercise Is The Best Medicine For Cancer Patients

Managing long-term and late side effects

Most people encounter different side effects while receiving treatment. But in some patients, side effects linger beyond the treatment duration. These are the long term side effects. 

Late side effects can develop after months or even after years of treatment. 

These side effects, both late and long term, can be both physical and emotional.

If you had a treatment known to have particular late effects, you might need physical examinations, blood tests, or scans to help find and manage them.

Keeping personal health records

Along with your doctor, you should work together to develop personalized Follow-up care for Brain stem Glioma plan. Some patients, after the treatment, continue to see their oncologist, while others go back to the supervision of their family/primary care doctor. It usually depends on various factors, including the type and stage of Brain stem gliomas, side effects, health insurance rules, personal preferences, beliefs and expectations.

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