Active surveillance for brain and spinal cord tumours
Active surveillance means that your healthcare team watches the cancer closely rather than giving treatment right away. They will use tests and exams to see if the brain or spinal cord tumour is growing or spreading. Treatment is given when you develop symptoms or the cancer changes.
This approach helps avoid side effects that can happen with treatments such as surgery or radiation therapy. There is no evidence so far that people won’t live as long when they get active surveillance compared to other treatments. And there is no evidence that active surveillance has other negative effects if or when you start treatment.
You may be offered active surveillance if the tumour is low-grade, and slow growing.
Active surveillance is not offered for high-grade, fast-growing tumours.
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