Medulloblastoma is a cancerous tumor that starts in the lower back part of the brain. This part of the brain is referred to as the cerebellum. The cerebellum is involved in muscle coordination, balance and movement. These tumors often grow quickly and can spread to other parts of central nervous system, but usually respond well to treatment.
Symptoms include:
Headaches
Nausea or vomiting in the morning
Clumsiness
Problems with handwriting
Tilting the head to one side
Difficulty walking
Balance problems
Diagnosis of medulloblastoma
Your child’s doctor will do a full physical exam and take a detailed medical history. Additional tests might be ordered, including:
A biopsy to get a sample of the tissue. This will be done while your child is under anesthesia.
Surgery. When the tumor is in an area that doctors can reach safely, surgery will be done to remove as much of the tumor as possible.
High energy X-rays. These are used to shrink tumors and prevent them from growing.
Fighting pediatric cancer and blood disorders
Our UW Health Kids | Carbone Cancer Care specialists offer the most advanced treatment options. Our pediatric cancer and blood disorder experts are national research leaders. We test new therapies and continue to work on therapies for pediatric cancer and blood disorders. For many children with rare or hard-to-treat conditions, clinical trials provide new options.
UW Health Kids
Our pediatric experts have served the special needs of children for more than 100 years. We focus on each child’s unique needs and offer social and emotional support to help you and your child face even the most complex condition. Our long history includes the creation of medical advances that save lives around the world. Together, we get your child back to health and enjoying being a kid.
Receiving care from the UW Health Kids | Carbone Cancer Center hematology, oncology and bone marrow transplant program at American Family Children’s Hospital means you have access to the knowledge and skills of many medical and support specialists for your child’s complex health diagnosis like cancer.
Your child’s care is our top priority and we understand the unique needs they have. Your child’s team will include:
Oncologists (cancer doctors)
Hematologists (blood disease doctors)
Nurse practitioners
Child life specialists
Pain management specialists
Physical, occupational and speech therapists
Radiologists and radiation technologists
Social workers
Surgeons
Neuro-oncologists
Pediatric neurosurgeons
Radiation oncologists
Neurologists
UW Health Kids | Carbone Cancer Care experts are dedicated to diagnosing and treating all infants, children and adolescents with cancer, including rare cancers like medulloblastoma.
Our pediatric oncologists are part of the UW Carbone Cancer Center, which is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. This designation means that the doctors taking care of your child are experts in cancer treatment, research and education.
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When your child needs hospitalization, they will be admitted to American Family Children's Hospital in Madison, Wis.
Child life specialists help your child and family cope with any fears and anxieties. The American Family Children's Hospital Patient and Family Visitor Guide features information about:
Hero beads
Hospital school
Positive Image Center
Restoring Hope Transplant House (for blood and bone marrow transplant recipients)
Spiritual care services
Tyler's Place (sibling child care)