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What Is Brain Cancer Stage 3?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Brain cancer stage 3 is the next-to-last stage of cancer in the brain. When a person has cancer at this stage, the tumor grows quickly, which means the disease has become aggressive. In many cases, cancer cells have also moved into tissues that are outside the brain. Additionally, stage 3 is marked by changes in the appearance of the cells of the tumor, and by this stage, they look dramatically different from normal cells. Treatment for this stage of brain cancer often includes surgery to remove the cancerous tumor and chemotherapy, which helps to destroy cancer cells.

Typically, brain cancer is categorized into four different stages. While stage 3 is not the most serious form that a person can have, it is both aggressive and life threatening. When a brain tumor is small and growing slowly, a patient's prognosis is often better. Unfortunately, by stage 3 of the disease, the cancer is usually growing fast, which can make it harder to treat successfully.

Surgery is usually vital for sufferers of stage 3 brain cancer.
Surgery is usually vital for sufferers of stage 3 brain cancer.

When an individual has brain cancer stage 3, cancer cells have typically spread into nearby tissues, which often makes treating it difficult and is associated with a worse prognosis for affected patients. This doesn't, however, mean that medical professionals will not be able to provide suitable treatment options.

The appearance of cancer cells is also an important factor when determining the stage of cancer a person has reached. In the early stages of cancer, the tumor cells may look normal. When a person reaches stage 3, however, the cancer cells look very different when compared to normal cells.

Different treatment methods are available that can influence the prognosis for brain cancer.
Different treatment methods are available that can influence the prognosis for brain cancer.

The treatment plan for brain cancer stage 3 depends on the unique needs and preferences of the patient. In many cases, however, surgery is used to removed the tumor from the patient's brain. Chemotherapy is often used as well, in an effort to kill cancer cells that have begun to spread from the original location of the tumor. Sometimes, medical professionals may even use chemotherapy before surgery, since the treatment may help to shrink the tumor enough for it to be removed more easily.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon963047

Scary is all that I can say. I am 29 years old and have four brain tumors and have been dealing with this for one and a half years. I take chemo pills daily and I go for radiation treatment four times a week, along with taking steroid shots.

The way I look at all of this is I have two choices: I can lie in bed crying and asking why me every day, or I can go forward and make the best of my days. I have been married to a wonderful man for eight years and have great family support. Every day is hard but it could be worse.

My advice to anyone going though this is hold your head up high and if you're not comfortable with your doctor, get a second opinion. It is your right. Best wishes to you all.

Markerrag

"Stage 3 cancer" has to be one of the most terrifying things a patient can hear from a doctor. Once cancer has hit that stage, the patient has a long battle ahead and survival rates are not that high. Patients have both the ravages of cancer and the misery of chemotherapy to deal with and both have a devastating impact.

I've had family members go through chemotherapy and it's not a pretty sight. Let's hope cancer treatment continues to improve so that people have a better shot of fighting cancer and winning.

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    • Surgery is usually vital for sufferers of stage 3 brain cancer.
      By: withGod
      Surgery is usually vital for sufferers of stage 3 brain cancer.
    • Different treatment methods are available that can influence the prognosis for brain cancer.
      By: edbockstock
      Different treatment methods are available that can influence the prognosis for brain cancer.
    • The treatment plan for brain cancer stage 3 depends on the unique needs and preferences of the patient.
      By: rob3000
      The treatment plan for brain cancer stage 3 depends on the unique needs and preferences of the patient.
    • Brain tumors are typically classified as being at one of four stages.
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      Brain tumors are typically classified as being at one of four stages.
    • The size and growth rate of the tumor affects a patient's prognosis for brain cancer stage 3.
      By: Lisa F. Young
      The size and growth rate of the tumor affects a patient's prognosis for brain cancer stage 3.
    • Tumor cells may look normal in the early stages of brain cancer.
      By: Tryfonov
      Tumor cells may look normal in the early stages of brain cancer.
    • Chemotherapy is likely to be part of the treatment for stage 3 brain cancer.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Chemotherapy is likely to be part of the treatment for stage 3 brain cancer.