What Is Brain Cancer?
When there's an abnormal cell growth or mass in our brain, the condition is referred to as brain tumor. A brain tumor can be benign or noncancerous or can be malignant or cancerous. The condition in which a person gets cancerous brain tumors is referred to as brain cancer.
A brain tumors beginning in our brain is termed as primary brain tumor while a tumor beginning elsewhere and spreading to our brain is called metastatic or secondary brain tumor. Primary brain tumor occurs less frequently compared to the secondary tumors. The primary brain tumors can start off from the brain or from tissues surrounding it; for instance the meninges or the membrane covering the brain, pituitary gland, pineal gland or cranial nerve. The metastatic or secondary brain tumors, on the other hand, are common in people having history of suffering from cancer. However, in some cases a metastatic brain tumor can also be the initial symptom of cancers originating in any other body part of the patient. All cancer types can invade our brain; among them the most common ones are: kidney cancer, melanoma, lung cancer, colon cancer and breast cancer.
The brain cancer symptoms experienced by the patients vary depending on factors like the size of the brain tumor and growth rate of the tumor. The general signs of cancerous brain tumor include:
- Sudden and frequent headaches or changes in the headache pattern
- Vomiting and nausea
- Vision changes like double vision, blurred vision, peripheral vision loss etc
- Difficulty in maintaining balance
- Lack of sensation
- Problems in moving a leg or an arm
- Confusion in regular matters
- Behavioral problems and personality changes
- Speech difficulties
- Hearing problems
- Seizures; this symptom is more alarming if a person without any history of seizure experience it
If you experience one or more of the above symptoms, report them to your physician. After performing a thorough physical exam, he may refer you to a cancer specialist. The cancer specialist will ask you to undergo certain diagnostic procedures like imaging tests (MRI, CT and PET) of the brain; if he suspects that you are having a secondary brain tumor, you might get screened for cancer in other body parts. In some cases biopsy of the brain tissue is also done.
Only when the doctor is sure that you are suffering from brain cancer he will plan a treatment sequence for you. The common treatments for brain cancer include: surgery, radio surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and targeted drug therapy.
Signs of Brain Cancer in Children
A child with brain cancer can experience the following signs and symptoms:
Headaches: It is the most common signs of brain cancer in children. The headache experience by children with brain cancer is significantly different from headaches caused by other medical conditions. Headaches due to brain tumor begin suddenly when the patient is sleeping and starts worsening when he wakes up. These headaches are also known to get worse when the patient changes his body position. Brain cancer headaches in children can be accompanied by other symptoms like weakness, numbness and double vision.
Increase in intracranial pressure: A brain tumor can exert pressure on its surrounding tissues and might also block the ventricles or the brain regions filled with fluid. This in turn will prevent the cerebrospinal [...]
Brain Cancer Treatment
Each individual should receive a unique brain cancer treatment. This depends on the individual’s age and general health. The size, location, and type of tumor, too, will determine the course of treatment.
You may have many questions regarding your tumor and the possible brain cancer treatment options. The side effects of the treatment, too, need to be discussed. Do not hesitate to consult your doctor.
Overview
Brain cancer treatment is generally complicated. A team of doctors needs to be consulted.
This team of doctors generally comprises neurosurgeons, oncologists, and radiation oncologists. Your general practitioner plays a pivotal role in this team. In some cases, dietitians, social workers, and physiotherapists, too, play an important role.
The treatment options depend on the [...]
Deadly Brain Tumor’s Forte might also be Its Achilles heel
Malignant gliomas are a prevalent sub-form of primary brain tumor and among the most lethal form. Despite on-going advancement being made in the treatment of other forms of solid tumor cancer types, the highly belligerent type of malignant glioma known as GBM (glioblastoma multiforme) has persistently resisted neurosurgery advancements, radiotherapy and varied conservative or new-fangled medications.
However a global research group helmed by LICR scientists at the Univ. of California, San Diego School of Medicine have reported in the mid-Aug edition of ‘Genes & Development’ that they have uncovered a novel signalling path in-between the GBM cells which in case finally obstructed or hampered can considerably slacken or lower tumor development and malignance.
GBMs surpass several [...]
Craniotomy Surgery–Foremost Approach in Brain Cancer Treatments
Surgery for removing tumor is often the first step in Brain cancer treatments adopted by neurosurgeons for removing majority of the tumor that is deemed risk-free while sparing normal brain functioning.
Surgery by itself or merged alongside radiation therapy might be used in brain cancer treatments for several tumors inclusive of a number of ependymoma, craniopharyngioma, ganglioglioma, low grade astrocytoma and meningioma forms.
Tumors which have a tendency to spread into adjoining tissues in the brain like glioblastoma or anaplastic astrocytoma are incurable through surgical intervention. However, surgery could lessen the extent of tumor which would need to undergo chemotherapy or radiation therapy that could aid in improving the efficacy of such therapies. This might assist in prolonging [...]
Parvoviruses as Effectual Weapons against Brain Cancer in Rodent Models
There are certain forms of parvoviruses usually causing infection in mice yet are additionally communicable for cells in humans. But humans having this virus presence are asymptomatic. Most significantly, such viral forms possess an astounding characteristic of obliterating infection-ridden tumor cells while sparing normal healthy tissues. Hence, researchers from the German Cancer Research Center DKFZ have been probing since several years if these viral forms could be employed as able weaponry for fighting brain cancer.
Several diverse viruses have been evaluated in the past for cancer treatment, especially for treatment of those cancer forms that have no effectual recognized therapy techniques. The DKFZ scientists came to an early realization that H-1 parvovirus has significant benefits [...]
How Do I Know Which Brain Cancer Treatment Is Best?
There are several treatments available for individuals affected by brain cancer however which brain cancer treatment that is used is dependent on several factors such as age and general health of the individual, size, type and location of the tumor and whether the tumor in question is primary or secondary.
Treatment options for brain cancer include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. In some cases radiation therapy alone may be enough to treat the tumor however in other cases it may be necessary to combine one or more treatments for the best results and the most successful outcome.
Surgery is generally the first choice for treatment in tumors that can be accessed in this way. The primary objective of surgery is to safely remove as much of the tumor as possible without causing [...]
What Are Common Brain Cancer Symptoms?
Brain cancer symptoms may vary from one person to another. This is because every person is different and their body may react to things in different ways. Another factor that affects how symptoms may present themselves is the type of brain cancer that is involved. Even tumors coming from the same brain tissue can become very different as they form.
Some of the most common symptoms that may be noticed in association with brain cancer include motion sickness, dizziness, frequent loss of balance, seizures, changes in personality or behavior, memory loss, headaches, nausea, vomiting and changes in how a person thinks or talks. Other things that may be affected by brain cancer include speech, hearing and sight.
In order for these symptoms to be properly diagnosed it is necessary to consult [...]
Are There Specific Brain Cancer Causes?
Exact brain cancer causes are not known at this time however there are many factors that may contribute to this disease. Two things that are known about brain cancer are that it does not occur due to a head injury and it is not contagious which means it cannot be passed from one person to another through any kind of contact. Some of the known or suspected risk factors for developing brain cancer may include race, gender, age, exposure to some chemicals, and family history.
Studies have shown that brain cancer often affects more men than women putting men at an increased risk of developing this cancer.
There seems to be a higher risk of brain cancer within the Caucasian race and less occurrences in other races.
Brain cancer or brain tumors are most often found in people over the age [...]
Brain Cancer Types You Should Know?
There are two basic brain cancer types. Those types that start or originate in the brain are known as primary brain cancer. The other type of brain cancer is called secondary brain cancer. Secondary brain cancer is a type of brain cancer that starts in other parts of the body and spreads or metastasizes to the brain. This is also known as metastasized brain cancer.
All types of malignant or cancerous brain tumors are considered life threatening, however not all benign or non cancerous tumors are as dangerous. Although both types of tumors can produce serious complications and symptoms benign tumors are generally only life threatening when they block vital systems such as arteries and veins.
It is rare for primary brain cancer to spread past the central nervous system and in most fatal [...]
What Do The Early Symptoms of Brain Cancer Include?
Brain cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the brain which leads to the formation of tumors. These tumors can directly affect many essential functions of the brain including those relevant to memory, muscle control and feeling or sensation. Not all brain tumors are cancerous but the ones that are made up of cancerous cells are called malignant tumors. When a tumor is made up of cells that are not cancerous they are referred to as benign and usually do not cause any problems.
Early symptoms of brain cancer may include things like difficulty walking, frequent loss of balance, difficulty talking or hearing, nausea, loss of appetite, memory loss, weakness, changes in eyesight, vomiting, headaches and motion sickness. Some other symptoms that may be noticed are changes in a person’s [...]
Delving Into The Intricacies Of Brain Cancer Treatments
Brain cancer treatments are generally complex with majority of the treatment plans involving many consultant doctors. The panel of doctors would comprise of neurosurgeons (experts in the field of brain and nervous system), oncologists, radiation oncologists (those doctors conducting radiation therapy) and the General practitioner. The team would additionally involve a dietician, a physiotherapist and possibly other experts.
The treatment procedure varies extensively on the basis of the site of the tumour, its extent and form, the individual’s age and any other medical issues that one might be having.
The most prevalent brain cancer treatments procedure involve surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. In few cases, a merger of more than one of them could be employed.
Surgery
Majority [...]
Gamma Knife Surgery & Procedure
The Gamma Knife is the state-of-the art radiation treatment intended for brain tumors that are small to intermediate-sized, irregular development of blood vessels known as arteriovenous malformations and other kinds of neurological ailments.
In spite of its name, the Gamma Knife is far from a knife, but a machine for delivering a single, unswervingly focused, high-intensity radiation dosage with exact precision on the targeted malicious cell growths, while steering away from adjacent healthy tissues leading to their miniscule or negligible harm. Aberrations about one inch in diameter (alike in size to a small-sized stone) –could be effectually treated using the Gamma knife.
Presently those with grave disorders are given treatment with the assistance of this non-invasive procedure that [...]
