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How do you taper steroids for patients with symptomatic edema following standard chemoradiation for GBM?

Do you have a preference for specific steroids? Some practices may switch to prednisone during this time. Patients with gliomas are often on decadron through the 6 week radiation course and often continue at some dose through the ensuing adjuvant chemo. Our endocrinology colleagues recommend a very slow taper after prolonged steroids (longer than is typically done by med oncs/rad oncs). The sxs of adrenal insufficiency are vague and similar to those of brain tumors.
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Radiation Oncology · Yale Cancer Center At Smilow Cancer Hospital
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I agree with above and would add that decreased production of corticosteroids by the adrenals does not typically occur until after a patient has been on steroids for at least 3 weeks. If you have a patient on steroids for less than this time period I suggest a rapid taper that is based on symptom co...

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Radiation Oncology · Cleveland Clinic
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We tend to use dexamethasone, although one of our neuro-oncologists likes prednisone better than dexamethasone as it may be easier to wean.

We used to keep patients on even a low dose of dexamethasone throughout treatment, but given concerns that dexamethasone will result in immunosuppression that m...

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Radiation Oncology · Fox Chase Cancer Center
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If the problem is less an adrenal one, consider overlapping with celebrex- this can be enormously helpful in helping a taper due to persistant edema. Also consider bevicizumab if there is persistant mass effect from tumor (as opposed to pseudonecrosis). As always, consider side effects of these ther...

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