Prevention of Childhood Central Nervous System Tumors

Executive Summary

Some primary preventive measures are considered essential to reduce the risk of childhood central nervous system tumors. There are no ways to prevent a Central Nervous System tumor through lifestyle changes. Understanding the risk and communicating with the doctor helps the individual make appropriate choices for the diagnosis and treatment. But the risk of developing childhood central nervous system tumors is reduced by avoiding environmental hazards such as smoking and exposure to radiation to the head.

Prevention of Childhood-Central Nervous System Tumors

You cannot prevent central nervous system tumors. Knowing the risk factors and consulting about them with your doctor can help you make more correct decisions. But currently, there are no well-known ways to prevent a Central Nervous System tumor through lifestyle changes.

You can lessen the risk of developing a Central Nervous System tumor by avoiding environmental hazards such as ​1​:

  • Smoking – Cigarette smoking may be associated with developing malignant gliomas. Also, Long-term heavy smoking could be a factor for risk stratification in individuals attending Central Nervous System tumors clinics.
  • Excessive exposure to radiation to the head – For patients with other types of cancer in or around the head, radiation therapy is given if doctors feel the benefits of the treatment can exceed the small risk of developing Central Nervous System tumors years later. When needed, doctors try to limit the dose of radiation as much as possible.

These are some of the Prevention of Central Nervous System tumors.

References

  1. 1.
    Babcock MA, Kostova FV, Guha A, Packer RJ, Pollack IF, Maria BL. Tumors of the Central Nervous System: Clinical Aspects, Molecular Mechanisms, Unanswered Questions, and Future Research Directions. J Child Neurol. Published online October 2008:1103-1121. doi:10.1177/0883073808321767