Medical facts on allergies, symptoms and diseases!
Brain tumors
Brain tumors, commonly known as brain cancer,
are a mass of cells, either abnormal or normal, that grow
unnecessarily in the brain.
Brain tumors typically are categorized as either primary or secondary.
Primary brain tumors originate in your brain and can be noncancerous (benign)
or cancerous (malignant). Secondary brain tumors result from cancer that began
elsewhere and spread to your brain. Primary brain tumors are less common than
secondary brain tumors.
Benign tumors grow slowly and rarely spread. About 40% to 44% of brain tumors are benign.
Malignant ones can grow rapidly and attack structures in the brain.
Malignant brain tumors are sometimes known as brain cancer, although not all of
them exactly fit a general description of cancer.
This is because tumors that originate in the brain are unlikely to grow outside
the central nervous system, and one of the characteristics of cancers is that
they can spread to other parts of the body.
While certain age groups are more at risk, other factors can influence if people
will develop brain cancer.
Environmental factors, such as contact with certain chemicals including solvents,
pesticides, oil products and rubber, can increase the risk. Radiotherapy to the
head, which can be given as treatment for another cancer, can add to the risk of
developing a brain tumor later in life.
What causes brain tumors?
This depends on whether the tumor is a primary brain tumor, meaning it originates
in the brain, or a metastatic brain tumor, which means it starts elsewhere in the body.
Metastatic tumors occur when cancer from another part of the body - such as a
lung or breast cancer - spreads to the brain.
By definition, metastatic tumors are malignant.
The causes of primary brain tumors are unknown, making prevention difficult.
What are the symptoms?
The most frequent symptoms of brain tumors include:
- Headaches
- Seizures (convulsions)
- Nausea or vomiting
- Weakness or loss of feeling in the arms or legs
- Stumbling or lack of coordination in walking
- Drowsiness
- Abnormal eye movements or changes in vision
- Changes in speech
- Changes in personality or memory
Brain tumors have both general symptoms and symptoms that depend on the tumor's location.
General symptoms begin with non-throbbing headaches that come and go. Most patients
will have them at some stage during their illness.
They are worse in the morning and when exercising or changing position.
Other symptoms are caused by damage to vital tissue and by pressure on the brain as
the tumor grows within the limited space in the skull. They also may be caused by
swelling and a buildup of fluid around the tumor, a condition called edema.
Seizures are also common, and are caused by disruption in the brain's electrical
activity.
Problems with mental ability such as memory, speech and concentration can occur,
and more severe mental changes affecting behaviour, temperament and intellectual
ability also affect patients.
The growth of the tumor can result in pressure building up inside the skull -
causing nausea, drowsiness and vision problems, as well as headaches and mental
problems. As pressure increases, consciousness fades and the patient requires
prompt treatment.
Some symptoms depend on where the tumor is on the brain. They will usually consist
of problems with the function that area of the brain controls.
What is the treatment?
Treatment for a brain tumor depends on the type,
size and location of the tumor, as well as your age and overall health.
Your doctor will tailor treatment to fit your particular situation.
Steroids may be given to reduce any swelling in the brain. Drugs to control
seizures may also be prescribed.
Surgery is usually the first treatment for brain tumors. It can be the only
intervention needed, but its success can depend on the location of the tumor
and whether or not it is easy to reach.
If surgery cannot remove the entire tumor, chemotherapy or radiation treatment
will also be offered.
As many tumor patients are left with mental or physical problems, rehabilitation
will also play a part in the treatment.
Future treatments include the possibility of a pill or gene therapy.
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