DIPG is a rare and aggressive brain tumor that mainly affects children. It forms in the pons, a part of the brainstem that controls vital functions like breathing, heartbeat, and movement.
Key Facts:
Radiation therapy: Temporarily reduces symptoms and slows growth.
• Clinical trials: Offer new, experimental options.
• Supportive care: Helps manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Because of its location in the brainstem and the way it spreads through vital brain tissue, DIPG is not curable with current medical treatments. Surgery is not possible, and while radiation can temporarily relieve symptoms and slow progression, the tumor inevitably continues to grow.
Doctors and researchers around the world are working hard to find better treatments for DIPG. Promising areas of study include targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and innovative ways to deliver medicine directly to the brain.