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BRAIN TUMOR

Cancer, Men's Health, Women's Health / By

BRAIN TUMOR

A brain tumor is the growth of abnormal cells in the brain tissues.

  • Some brain tumor is benign (noncancerous) and others are malignant (cancerous).
  • The skull which encloses the brain is very rigid and any growth within this restricted space can cause problems.
  • When benign and malignant tumor grows, they may damage the cells around them by causing an increase in the pressure on the tissue under and around it as well as inside the skull.
  • This can lead to brain damage and it can be life-threatening.
  • Benign brain tumors are primary brain tumors as they originate in the brain and do not spread from one part of the body to another.
  • Malignant tumors can be divided into primary brain tumors which start in the brain, and secondary or metastatic tumors that start somewhere else in the body and moves to the brain.
  • Primary brain tumors either benign or malignant can develop in the brain cells, glands, nerve cells, the meninges ( the membrane that surrounds your brain)
  • Some examples of benign tumors are gliomas, medulloblastoma, pituitary tumors, ependymomas, craniopharyngiomas.
  • Some example of malignant primary brain tumors are CNS lymphomas, glioblastomas, choroid plexus carcinomas, and malignant secondary brain tumors can spread from lung cancer, breast cancer, kidney cancer or skin cancer.

CAUSES

The cause of most brain tumors is not fully understood. But researchers have found that some changes that occur in the normal brain cells can lead to the formation of brain tumors.

Doctors have identified some risk factors that may increase the risk of a brain tumor. This may include:

  • A family history of brain tumors
  • Exposure to ionizing radiation
  • Inherited conditions such as Von Hippel-Lindau disease, multiple endocrine neoplasias, Li-Fraumeni syndrome
  • People with celiac disease
  • Having a weakened immune system

SYMPTOMS

  • New onset or change in the pattern of a headache
  • Unexplained nausea or vomiting
  • Difficulty walking
  • Speech, writing and reading problems. This may result from a tumor in the parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and certain parts of the cerebrum or cerebellum.
  • Vision problems such as blurred vision, double vision or loss of peripheral vision. This can be due to a tumor in or around the optic nerve, pituitary gland, occipital lobe, or frontal lobe
  • Personality or behavioral changes
  • Seizures especially in someone without a previous history of seizure
  • Drowsiness
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Muscle weakness in the face, arm or leg
  • A lack of balance may indicate a tumor near the base of the brain
  • Headaches that usually worsen in the morning
  • A headache may be made worse by coughing, sneezing, or exercise
  • Abnormal eye movement
  • Difficulty thinking
  • Memory Lapses
  • A lack of coordination
  • Confusion
  • Loss of bladder or bowel control
  • Hearing problem

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, memory strength. 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 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

Treatment option depends on the type of tumor, the size,the location of the tumor, and your general health.

Surgery which may include removing only part of the tumor. In some cases where a tumor is located in the sensitive or inaccessible area of the brain, surgery will be performed to remove as much of the tumor as is safe. Surgery to remove brain tumor carries risks, such as infections and bleedings.

For malignant tumors, radiation therapy that uses powerful, energy beams such as X-rays to kill the cancer cell will be used

For malignant tumors, chemotherapy that involves using medication injected intravenously or taken orally to kill the cancer cell will be used.

Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy can aid fast recovery after neurosurgery.