BRAIN CANCER
Brain cancer is a type of cancer arising from the brain.
- The disease is marked by cancer cell arising in the brain tissue.
- Cancerous brain tumors tend to grow quickly. They disrupt the way the body works and can be life-threatening.
- Brain cancer is uncommon, the American Cancer Society estimates that people have less than a 1% chance of developing brain cancer during their lifetime.
- Cancer cells that develop from the brain tissue are called primary brain tumors while those that spread or metastasize from one body part to the brain is called metastatic or secondary brain tumors.
Some common types of brain cancer are:
- Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain cancer that forms from cells called astrocytes. Astrocytes support nerve cells. Glioblastoma can occur at any age but occur more in older adults. This is the most common and deadliest primary brain cancer and is one of a group of tumors referred to as gliomas.
- Astrocytoma, this type grow from glial cells. The glia provides structure in the brain, as well as nourish nerve cells and plays a role in learning and memory. Astrocytomas can occur in any part of the brain and can either grow slowly or grow rapidly and invade surrounding brain tissue.
- Choroid plexus carcinoma, this type begins near the brain tissue that secretes cerebrospinal fluid and occurs mainly in children
- Central Nervous System (CNS) Lymphoma, this type occurs when cancerous cell form in the lymph tissue in the brain.
CAUSES
The exact cause of brain cancer is not clear. However, factors that can increase the risk of brain cancer may include:
- The family history of brain cancer
- Exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation
- Working with elements that can cause cancer such as lead, plastic, petroleum and some textiles such as seen in people having a job in an oil refinery, handlers of jet fuel, chemists, embalmers, or rubber-industry worker.
- Increased age
- Long-term smoking
- Exposure to pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizer
- Having an Epstein-Barr virus infection or mononucleosis
- Cancer that commonly metastasizes to the brain such as kidney cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer
SYMPTOMS
- Nausea
- Difficulty working
- Speech problems
- Vision problems such as blurred vision, double vision or loss of peripheral vision
- Personality or behavioral changes
- Seizures especially in someone without a previous history of seizure
- Drowsiness
- Muscle twitching
- Muscle jerking
- A lack of balance
- Headaches that usually worsen in the morning
- Abnormal eye movement
- Difficulty thinking
- Memory Lapses
- A lack of coordination
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
To make a diagnosis, the doctor may perform one of the following to make a diagnosis:
- A neurological exam which may include checking vision, hearing, balance, coordination, strength, among others. This may provide clues about the part of your brain that is affected by a brain tumor.
- Imaging tests such as CT scan, MRI and positron emission tomography (PET) scans to locate the tumor.
- A lumbar puncture, a procedure that collects a small sample of the fluid surrounding the brain, to check for cancer cells.
- A brain biopsy, where tissue is removed using the needle and the biopsy sample is then viewed under a microscope to determine if it cancerous or benign.
TREATMENT
There are several treatments for brain cancer. Treatment option depends on the type, size and location, age and general health.
Surgery which may include removing only part of the tumor, in some cases where the tumor is located in sensitive or inaccessible area of the brain, surgery won’t be performed and this type is often termed inoperable. Surgery to remove this kind of tumor carry risk
Radiation therapy that uses powerful, energy beams such as X-rays to kill the cancer cell
Chemotherapy that involves using medication injected intravenously or taken orally to kill the cancer cell.
Targeted drugs treatments can also cause cancer cells to die.