Brain tumor treatment for your glioma may start with surgery to safely remove as much of the tumor as possible. Surgical goals include confirming the diagnosis, removing the tumor, and relieving symptoms that affect your quality of life.

Some glioma-type (astrocytoma, glioblastoma) brain tumors are small and easy to separate from surrounding healthy brain tissue. In these situations, surgical removal is often the first treatment. Other glioma tumors may be located near or within sensitive areas in the brain. In these cases, surgery is more challenging, and doctors only remove as much of the tumor as is safe.

Surgery is a primary treatment option for many glioma brain tumor types, whether the tumors are slow-growing or more aggressive.

Sometimes, gliomas are in areas of the brain that prevent surgeons from removing the tumors fully. Removing even some of the tumor can reduce symptoms and allow you to move forward with other types of treatment.