After Treatment

After treatment for craniopharyngioma ends, talk with your child’s doctor about developing a follow-up care plan. This plan may include regular physical examinations and/or medical tests to monitor your child’s recovery for the coming months and years. All children treated for craniopharyngioma should have life-long, follow-up care.

Follow-up care is important to determine whether the tumor is starting to grow again. It is also important to monitor the person’s visual, endocrine (hormone), and metabolic functions. As a result of the tumor and its treatment, hormone replacement therapy (medication used to replace hormones in the body when the body can no longer produce adequate amounts) is almost always necessary. Because of the frequent problems with slow metabolism and weight gain, a regular exercise program and dietary changes are often recommended.

A child treated for craniopharyngioma should have regular MRI scans to check for any growth or return (recurrence) of the tumor. Because craniopharyngioma is slow-growing and because the likelihood of tumor recurrence is low, MRI scans are often only done once or twice a year. If the patient has been treated with radiation therapy, there is a small possibility that a different type of brain tumor may develop years after the radiation therapy is given.

Based on the type of treatment the child received, the doctor will determine what examinations and tests are needed to check for long-term side effects and the possibility of secondary tumors. Your doctor can recommend the necessary screening tests. Follow-up care should also address the child’s quality of life, including any developmental or emotional concerns. Learn more about Childhood Cancer Survivorship<.

The child’s family is encouraged to organize and keep a record of the child’s medical information, so that as the child enters adulthood, he or she has a clear, written history of the diagnosis and details of the treatment given. The doctor’s office can help you compile this, and it should include recommendations from the doctor about the schedule for follow-up care. This information will be valuable to doctors who care for your child during his or her lifetime.

Children who have had a tumor can also enhance the quality of their future by following established guidelines for good health into and through adulthood, including not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, and participating in regular physical activity. Talk with the doctor about developing a plan that is best for your child’s needs.

To learn about the terms used in this section, read the Cancer.Net Feature: Cancer Terms to Know: After Treatment.