Living with Medulloblastoma
A cancerous brain tumor in the lower back part of the brain (cerebellum), mostly seen in children.
Understanding Medulloblastoma
It occurs mostly in children and can spread through the fluid pathways around the brain and spinal cord. There are four types based on how the cells look. It can happen at any time in life.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Poor balance and coordination (ataxia)
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Unusual sleepiness (lethargy)
- Raised pressure inside the skull
- Tremor with movement
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists and cancer specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Cancer specialists (oncologists)
- Expert care
- Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Children's Brain Tumor Foundation and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
GARD does not describe a specific cause. It lists both autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive inheritance patterns for some forms.
Also known as: brain medulloblastoma; cerebellar medulloblastoma; cerebellum embryonal neoplasm; mdb; mdb - medulloblastoma; medulloblastoma predisposition syndrome
Patient organizations
- Children's Brain Tumor FoundationMedulloblastoma · United States
- Pediatric Brain Tumor FoundationMedulloblastoma · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Medulloblastoma.
Explore research for Medulloblastoma
Explore actively recruiting Medulloblastoma studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Medulloblastoma with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper
I can help you find recruiting Medulloblastoma studies. Enter a ZIP code, address or city below and I'll look within 50 miles.
Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
Get Signals for Medulloblastoma
Stay in the loop with community stories and updates from medical researchers.
Create a living journal that talks back
HealthStory evolves private journaling with a living AI journal that talks back and asks thoughtful questions, helping you capture your Medulloblastoma experiences more deeply and prepare for better conversations with your doctors and care team.
Your journal is private. Sharing your story publicly is a separate choice, made with Share your story above.