Brain Tumors A deadly Diseases

Brain Tumors A deadly Diseases

Brain tumors are the result of uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the brain. They can affect children and adults, but are considered to be rare among both populations. Brain tumors can be classified as malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous). Malignant tumors tend to be more aggressive than benign types, but both are very serious and can be fatal. For educational purposes, this article references subject matter related to malignant brain tumors affecting adults only.There are over 140 different types of brain tumors that can form in the brain. Brain tumors can be classified as primary or metastatic, depending on where they arise in the body. Primary brain tumors originate in the brain and rarely spread outside of it. Metastatic tumors begin in another part of the body and spread to the brain through blood or lymphatic tissue. Some cancer types are more prone to spreading to the brain. These types include breast cancer, kidney cancer, melanoma, and lung cancer.

Symptoms of Brain Tumors

Brain tumor symptoms vary based on the location of the tumor within the brain and the size of the tumor. Severity of symptoms does not indicate how large a tumor is - small tumors can cause severe symptoms.

Headaches are a common symptom of brain tumors, but are usually accompanied by another symptom. Brain tumor associated headaches often have characteristics that set them apart from headaches that re related to less serious conditions. Contrary to popular belief, headaches are not usually the initial symptom a person experiences - it is actually a seizure or muscle weakness that is most often the first symptom a brain tumor presents.

Other brain tumor symptoms include:

• nausea and/or vomiting

• visual and hearing disturbances

• problems with memory

• slower thought process

• weakness on one side of the body or abnormal gait

• fatigue or increased sleep

• personality changes

Treatment of Brain Tumors

Brain tumors are treated by an experienced group of medical professionals that may be called your "treatment team." The team is composed of a neurosurgeon, medical oncologist or neuro-oncologist, radiation oncologist, and a pathologist. Many other supporting team members also provide care, such as oncology nurses.

The tumor type, location, and grade will determine the treatment plan. Curative treatment is possible with some tumors, while slowing the growth or simply relieving severe symptoms may be the goal of treatment for others. Unfortunately, there may be no recommended course of treatment for some brain tumors.

Surgical approaches in brain tumor treatment include tumor resection (complete removal) or debulking (removing as much as possible). In some cases, surgery may be the only treatment method that is required, but others may need other treatment methods, like radiation therapy. Surgery followed by radiation therapy is common with many tumors, however. There are several types of radiation therapy used to treat brain tumors. Again, tumor type, grade, and location are key factors in deciding which type of therapy is best.

Radiation therapy does not come without risks, however. It can damage parts of the brain, leading to cognitive decline, like memory loss and trouble concentrating. Swelling can be a side effect, but can be controlled with corticosteroids. Radiation necrosis can also be a side effect of radiation. In simple terms, it is the formation of irradiated brain tissue that has died and developed into a mass. Surgery may be needed to to remove the dead tissue.

Chemotherapy may be utilized in some tumors that are known to respond well to chemotherapy agents, such as CNS lymphoma, gliomas, or medullablastomas. Some higher grade tumors respond well, but not all. Thus, chemotherapy is available to select patients whose tumors are favorable to chemotherapy.