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If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with a brain tumour and you don’t know which way to turn, start with our free Information Pack.
Normally, further testing would be performed so a more specific diagnosis can be made before treatment begins.
The World Health Organization (WHO) discourages the diagnosis of tumours as unspecified gliomas, mixed gliomas or even oligoastrocytomas because they are too vague and unhelpful in finding the right treatment.
There are a number of genetic marker tests (to test for IDH mutation and 1p/19q codeletion) which could determine whether a tumour is more likely an:
Once the tests are complete, you will usually receive the standard treatment for that type of tumour.
If a more specific diagnosis isn't possible, your treatment will usually be based on how your tumour appears on scans and whether it closely resembles any other type of brain tumour.
For example, if the tumour seems to be diffuse, which means it stretches into surrounding healthy tissue in a tentacle-type way, your team may want to treat the tumour with the maximum doses of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. If the tumour has well defined borders and seems not to be showing signs of growth, your team may choose to take a less aggressive treatment approach.
If you need someone to talk to or advice on where to get help, our Support and Information team is available by phone, email or live-chat.
By taking part in our Improving Brain Tumour Care surveys and sharing your experiences, you can help us improve treatment and care for everyone affected by a brain tumour.
If you have further questions, need to clarify any of the information on this page, or want to find out more about research and clinical trials, please contact our team:
0808 800 0004 (free from landlines and mobiles)
support@thebraintumourcharity.org
Phone lines open Mon-Fri, 09:00-17:00
clinicaltrials@thebraintumourcharity.org
You can also join our active online community - Join our online support groups.