Are infections more common in patients with brain tumors?
Brain tumor patients are not necessarily more susceptible to infection as a result of the tumor; however, their treatment may place them at risk for certain kinds of infections. Many brain tumor patients are treated with steroids such as dexamethasone before and after surgery. A short course of steroids usually does not increase the risk of infection. However, long-term steroid use (over a period of weeks or months) is often associated with fungal infections, particularly oral thrush (candidiasis). Thrush appears as a white coating over the tongue and back of the throat, and although it may be painless, it can affect taste and appetite. Extensive candidiasis of the esophagus and genitourinary tract may be painful and require several days of oral antifungal therapy. Some chemotherapy drugs, especially when used in combination with steroids, increase the risk of infection. Temodar, a drug that usually is not associated with a low white blood cell count, affects the subset of white cells
