Has a family member or friend undergone surgery for brain cancer? Or are you looking for information about it? Today we are going to talk about a special drug that is given to stop the growth of cancer cells after a brain tumor is surgically removed. This is a slightly different type of treatment. Let's take a look at the details.
Simply put, what is this medicine?
This drug is called Carmustine, or BCNU. It's actually an anti-cancer drug, or more precisely, a chemotherapy drug. Usually, when we think of chemotherapy, we think of something that's injected into a vein or a pill that we take, right? But this is different.
This medication comes in the form of a small, thin wafer. Think of it like a coin. After a brain tumor (such as a glioma or glioblastoma) is completely removed during surgery, the surgeon places one or more of these tablets in the space where the tumor used to be.
This means that this medicine goes directly to the brain, where the cancer is located, and works. The main purpose of this is to destroy any very small cancer cells that may remain after surgery and prevent the cancer from coming back.
Things you need to tell your doctor before starting this treatment
This treatment is decided by your surgeon and oncologist together. However, before the surgery, you must provide this information to the medical team.
- If you have a medical condition such as seizures .
- If you have an allergic reaction to this Carmustine (BCNU) medicine or any other medicine, food, or dye.
- If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or have any doubts about it.
- If you are a breastfeeding mother.
These points are very important, as they directly affect the success of the treatment and your safety.
How do you use this medicine?
This is not a medicine you can take home or buy from a pharmacy. This is used entirely in the hospital.
At the end of the brain tumor removal surgery, the surgeon places these wafers where the tumor was. Then the skull is closed again. So this is something that happens entirely in the operating room. So there are no problems like missing a dose or taking too much medication.
However, in the event of an emergency, it is important to immediately notify the hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU). If the problem is related to poisoning, you can call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
What are the possible side effects after treatment?
Like any medicine, this treatment can cause side effects in some people. However, not everyone will experience them. The most important thing is to tell your doctor if you notice anything unusual.
| Side effect | Description |
|---|---|
| 🚨 Serious side effects that should be reported to the doctor or hospital immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, difficulty breathing. |
| Seizures | Sudden loss of consciousness, twitching, or stiffness. |
| Severe headache | Very severe, persistent headache. |
| Symptoms of brain infection | Fever, stiff neck, difficulty looking at light, vomiting. |
| Vision changes | Blurred vision or other visual changes. |
| 🩺 Tell your doctor if it persists or is bothersome. | |
| Mood changes | Sudden changes in mood, agitation. |
| Constipation | Difficulty going to the toilet. |
| Weakness | Feeling of lifelessness. |
Important things to consider during treatment
Scheduled tests and medical appointments
After surgery and treatment, your doctor will need to see you regularly. This means making sure you go to the clinic on scheduled days and have blood tests. These are the things that will help the doctor understand whether the treatment is successful, whether fluid is accumulating around the brain, and whether there are any other complications.
Be especially aware of fertility, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.
This is a very important part. This medicine can affect a child.
- For women: You should avoid getting pregnant for at least 6 months after taking this medicine. If you are thinking about having a child, talk to your doctor about it before treatment.
- For men: This medicine may affect male fertility. Therefore, you should avoid fathering a child for at least 3 months after taking this medicine. If you have any questions about your fertility, talk to your doctor.
- Nursing mothers: You should avoid breastfeeding your baby for at least 7 days after receiving this treatment.
It is extremely important to follow these instructions, as this medicine can cause serious harm to an unborn baby.
Take-Home Message
- Carmustine (BCNU) is a special chemotherapy drug that is placed where the cancer is located during brain cancer surgery.
- This is not a medicine to take home, it is administered by the doctor during surgery.
- Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, allergies, and pregnancy plans before treatment.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience a severe side effect such as severe headache, seizures, fever, or allergic symptoms.
- Strictly follow your doctor's instructions regarding pregnancy and breastfeeding after treatment.
- Never miss your scheduled doctor appointments and checkups.
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