Brain tumours: Children

Temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis) is where the arteries, particularly those at the side of the head (the temples), become inflamed. Val Emblen, who was 64 when she went on steroids, put on 1½st. I was invited to a party at which one of the key draws was the presence of the Leader of the Opposition. I looked at my puffiness in the ­mirror and just couldn’t face going out that night.

• Steroids can weaken bones, which can lead to a condition known as osteoporosis.
• Alternatively, if surgical removal of the mass is planned, a sample may simply be collected at the time of surgery.
• If you have an allergic reaction to docetaxel, it will probably happen within the first few minutes of your treatment.
• You can visit the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC) for more detailed information.
• It means your child will need to go into hospital for an operation under general anaesthetic.

If you need a blood test while you are in A&E then we’ll look for HIV infection in your blood in line with NICE guidance. A hepatitis test is offered to all people who need a blood test in the emergency department. If you have had diagnostic genetic or predictive tests for a condition inherited from your family, you may need to disclose this information when taking out new insurance. A gastroscopy is when we examine the upper part of your digestive system to diagnose or monitor conditions.

Radiotherapy in Dogs and Cats Fact Sheet

You should also tell your complementary therapist about any cancer treatments you’re having. Like all treatments, hormone therapy can cause side effects. It won’t cure your prostate cancer, but it can help keep it under control.

• If you get pregnant while you’re on steroids, don’t stop taking them before you’ve spoken to your doctor.
• Because there are different types of brain tumours, treatment will not be the same for everyone.
• Whatever your diagnosis, we can make sure you get the expert care you need and without delay.
• These should avoid or minimise long-term glucocorticoid treatment and have less effect on the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

If you have any pain in your bones, such as in your lower back, tell your doctor. Doing regular exercise, such as walking, can improve your bone health. We have more information about bone health and looking after your bones. To help protect your stomach, you should take your tablets with food.

Cancer information and support

We have more information about coronavirus and blood cancer including practical support you can get if you need to be extra careful about going out. Blood cancer affects your immune system, the blood cells and organs that fight infection and keep you well. Your skin can become sensitive or itchy and it might change colour slightly. Taking steroids can lead to stretch marks, and you may have small scars from tests or treatment.

Our hospitals

The vaccine against the most common cause of pneumonia and yearly flu vaccines don’t interact with steroid tablets, as they’re not live vaccines. It’s important that you have these vaccinations to reduce your chances of getting these infections. These are more likely if you’re on a high dose or if you’re taking steroids for a long time.

There are 3 basic options for the treatment of tumours:

Your healthcare team may give you a small card to carry with you while you are taking steroids. This is so that anyone else treating you, such as your dentist or in an emergency, knows that you are on steroids. The amount (dose) and length of steroid treatment is different depending on why you’re having steroids.

Please remember that you should never stop taking your steroids suddenly or reduce your dosage unless your specialist advises you to. At the end of your treatment, your specialist is likely to reduce your dosage gradually. If you have difficulty swallowing tablets, try practising with tic tacs®. An organisation recommended by the NHS that offers custom-made medical alert jewellery with details of medical conditions.

Exercise medicine

If you have hormone therapy on its own, the treatment will aim to control your cancer and delay or manage any symptoms. As with many medications, steroids affect different people in different ways. Their effect will also depend on the exact type and dosage prescribed for you. Talk to your healthcare team about any side-effects you experience.

We have more information about nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy). You may find it’s harder to do simple activities like climbing stairs. This can happen while you’re taking steroids or some gmbodyaware anti-cancer (chemotherapy) drugs. Your healthcare team can help with side effects by giving you medication or adjusting your treatment, so don’t hold back – tell them how you’re feeling.

Sometimes it may be difficult to remove a benign tumour, because of where it is and, in this situation, other treatments may be needed. A biopsy isn’t always done; it is sometimes better to remove the whole tumour in one operation. In this case, it will be a few days before the exact type of tumour is known. Your doctor will want to hear about the problems your child has had recently, and will examine him or her properly.